Daniel Farke insists blaming Norwich City's defensive decline on a move away from three at the back is wide of the mark.

City's 4-1 Championship defeat at QPR continued a worrying trend that has seen them ship 13 goals in the last five games.

The only positive result during that stint came with Grant Hanley, Christoph Zimmermann and Timm Klose in tandem at Barnsley - although ironically it was Farke's tactical switch that triggered a fightback at Oakwell.

'You always think about different solutions in football,' he said.

'I remember after Barnsley when we changed it we said we looked so much better when we switched to a four.

'We had a brilliant home win against Reading and we are looking to go further on in this way but then we go to QPR and we are poor and then we have to speak about a three-man being more solid.

'I don't think the problems came in the centre.

MORE: Dave Freezeer crunches the numbers'Analyse the goals, the first one came from a situation in the pocket when the player wins possession and six players are unable to close him down.

'Second goal, our goalkeeper loses a duel, third goal we lost the second ball in the full back position and the fourth goal was a free kick and then a cross and we lose the header.

'This defeat was not about the system but individuals not doing their jobs.'

Farke admitted he did not see City's Loftus Road collapse coming.

'I can't explain it. I didn't have the feeling before the game or during the first half,' he said.

'I got the feeling we were on the front foot, we controlled many situations and got the lead; perhaps too safe and too comfortable. QPR reminded us how important the basics are.'

MORE: Have your say on our Pinkun forum