OWEN Coyle suffered his first defeat as Burnley manager last night and described it as a 'kick in the teeth'.

The Clarets turned in a disappointing performance at Turf Moor as they slumped to a shock 2-0 defeat against rock-bottom QPR.

And there was more misery with Clarke Carlisle and Alan Mahon both picking up hamstring injuries.

The damage was done in the second-half, with centre-back Damion Stewart heading the Londoners in front before Rowan Vine completed victory in injury-time.

After reeling off successive away wins at Watford, Charlton and Wolves, Burnley would have climbed to fourth in the Championship with victory over Luigi Di Canio's strugglers.

But Rangers ripped up the form book, to leave Coyle still searching for his first three points at Turf Moor.

"We are all learning and it was a harsh lesson," said the Clarets boss.

"We have been in football long enough though to know there will always be that kick in the teeth.

"It was evident that the fight and spirit was there in abundance, but we weren't as fluent or quick as we have been so maybe we have to look at that.

"We will take it on board and look to get the legs rested up so we can be as nice and bright against Preston as we have been."

Alan Mahon struck the upright in the first-half, but the Clarets were subdued for most of the night until Stewart's opener injected life into Coyle's men.

Coyle added: "We carried the fight and just needed more guile or a spark from somewhere, because if we had equalised I truly believe we would have gone on to win it.

"The game was there to win and we did have opportunities to score goals.

"We got caught with the set play, but I thought from 1-0 we forced the game and had numerous decent opportunities. We had corner after corner - 14 in the second half - but it wasn't to be.

"I don't think the bounce of the ball went for us and I have to say I don't think we achieved the standards we set recently in passing and receiving the ball.

"The effort was fantastic, but this was our sixth game in 17 days and there will be no criticism.

"We will take the kick in the teeth, and that's what it is. But we will learn the lesson and hopefully come back stronger."