Adam Clayton reviewed the defeat at Blackpool and said: “If we needed a kick up the backside, that was it.”
The midfielder quickly dismissed suggestions motivation was a problem for Mark Robins’ players.
And he insisted Town, although 12 points above the relegation zone with nine games to go, still aren’t safe from being drawn into the kind of relegation scrap they came through on the final day of last season.
With Town 16th in the Championship, Clayton continued: “Our ambition is to get into the top 10, and I still think we can do it.
“But we’re certainly not out of anything at the other end of the table yet. We can’t cruise for rest of season.
“If we lose a few more, we could be back where we were last season.
“If we needed a kick up the backside, this was it.
“I’m not worried, because I don’t think we’ll be dragged into it.
“But what I am saying is that there is plenty to play for. We want to get into that top 10.”
Clayton added: “In the first half, it was the worst we’ve played this season, individually and collectively.
“In the second half, I thought we were better. We could have got a goal, but overall, we probably didn’t deserve one.
“The plan was to get in behind their defenders, but on a tight pitch, that was hard to achieve.
“But we have a midweek game (at home to Middlesbrough) and we have to go again, and do far better.
“The manager sets high standards, and we didn’t meet them. We have to react to that the right way.”
Middlesbrough, who are 14th, also suffered a frustrating afternoon.
Stoppage-time goals by Bobby Zamora and Ravel Morrison condemned them to a 3-1 home defeat by QPR after they had led through George Friend.
Manager Aitor Karanka said: “I don’t believe it. I can explain what happened but I can’t understand it.
“It was a game we did not deserve to lose. We had a good chance to win at one end and then suddenly we have lost the game.
“There was not much between the teams and we had chances.”
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