Rafa Benitez’s side got off the perfect start when Jonjo Shelvey lashed home the opener inside a minute, but Conor Washington levelled just before half time.
A fine Matt Ritchie header restored United’s lead after the break, but Ciaran Clark’s last-gasp own goal meant the hosts had to settle for a point at St. James’ Park.
And afterwards, French winger Gouffran said that the Magpies must raise their game ahead of this weekend’s Sky Bet Championship clash with Derby County.
“It was two points dropped tonight because we wanted to win. I think we started the first half well, and we played well for maybe 15 or 20 minutes but after, we started to make some mistakes and we lost some confidence,” he told nufc.co.uk.
“We have to do better, we have to play better and we have to improve.
“It was a good start for us, because we scored early, and we pushed to score the second goal. But we made some mistakes, and after it became difficult to stay focussed.
“We are at the top of the table, and we have to play better. Tonight I thought we didn’t do well in the game – if you watch all the game, we played well only for 15 minutes, so we have to do better.
“I don’t know why that was. Maybe our mistakes gave QPR some confidence, and after they scored their goals.”
The 30-year-old almost won it in the dying moments, but his left-footed shot was repelled by R’s goalkeeper Alex Smithies.
And Gouffran admitted that the mood was contemplative in the dressing room after the game, as his side now begin to train their sights on the visit of the Rams – who they beat 2-0 in the reverse fixture back in September – on Saturday afternoon.
“It was quiet, because we wanted to win tonight. We want to finish first, and we’ve lost some points and the team that’s first has some points on us. We have to get some wins in a row, and we will see,” he said.
“It’s not the same team that we played in September. They’ve changed managers. I watched them play against Leicester (in the FA Cup) and I think they did well. They are a different team, and they have some good players. It’s going to be a tough game.
“I know they are doing well at the minute, they are winning games and they are in the play-off places, so they’re a good team. It will be a tough game.”
