Michael Carrick insisted his Middlesbrough side need to "change the cycle" after losing 2-1 at relegation-threatened Portsmouth.
Boro have won just one of their last six league outings and were nudged out of the play off places by West Brom following defeat at Fratton Park.
Carrick said: "I'm bitterly disappointed with the result and the way we finished the game. We're hurting tonight and we have to change the cycle.
"We put ourselves in a good position at a tough place to come and dealt with it for 50-odd minutes.
"The second goal would have been important for us and this is the type of place there is always a moment.