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David Strelec, Morgan Whittaker put Boro 2-0 up at the break, Whittaker netting for the sixth time in six games.

Tommy Conway stretched the lead to three five minutes into the second half with his first goal since August.

Nicolas Madsen pulled one back for QPR from the penalty spot in the 70th minute, but the game was done and dusted by that point.

The win keeps Boro within five points of Frank Lampard's Coventry City, which beat Bristol City 1-0, but the gap to third place has been extended to seven points.

"The first half was unbelievable. There was a lot of feelings like, wow, my players are so good," Boro boss Kim Hellberg said.

"It is difficult to keep up the quality for 90 minutes but they did amazing in the first half – it really was top level.

It was a second loss in six games for the Hoops, who have dropped down to ninth on the table, but manager Julian Stephan had to acknowledge Boro was the better side on the day.

"We have to be honest and say that is probably the best team we have faced since the start of the season," he said.

"Especially in the first 60 minutes, they played technically, collectively, physically very, very well and they were stronger than us – I think they deserved the win and it was a logical result.

"We scored one goal and we had more opportunities to score another one but in the end they [Middlesbrough] deserved their win.

"We will play against them again in March at home and let's see in the next three months if we are able to improve in order to compete because we know they will be playing for promotion. It was difficult for us today."