Goalkeeper Dan Grimshaw knows Plymouth Argyle will have to improve on their performance in the 1-0 defeat by Queens Park Rangers at the weekend to stand a chance of getting points out of two tough Championship games this week.

Both matches are against promotion contenders, with third-placed Burnley visiting Home Park on Wednesday (8pm) and then the Pilgrims are away to Sunderland, who are in fourth position, on Saturday (3pm).

Argyle are bottom of the table after going 13 league games without a win and they rarely looked like ending that dismal run against QPR, whose winning goal came from substitute Rayan Kolli in the 65th minute.

READ MORE: Miron Muslic wants Plymouth Argyle signings who are up for the fight

READ MORE: Miron Muslic 'very disappointed' with Plymouth Argyle against QPR

Grimshaw said: "The performance wasn't at the levels we need to be at. We wasn't good enough. We have to improve on that and we have to go from there. We have got games coming fast and if we want to get out of the situation that we are in we need to start picking up points."

The Argyle 'keeper made two outstanding saves from QPR's Swiss-born striker Michael Frey, one either side of half-time, but that was not enough to prevent his side from slipping to a 14th league defeat out of 27 games this season.

Grimshaw said: "I'm pleased with how I played but I would rather it come in a win and not in a defeat. I'm always going to be team over my performance. The most important thing we take away from the game is we lost it."

Argyle had just one shot on target against QPR despite new head coach Miron Muslic selecting a side which included attacking quartet Rami Al Hajj, Michael Baidoo, Ryan Hardie and Morgan Whittaker.

Grimshaw said: "We need more from everyone, not just them players. Obviously, they are in the team to try and create chances and get goals, but we have got to provide them the ball in good areas and good situations that means they can show their quality, and I don't think we did that enough. It was hard for them and we are going to have to improve on that."

Muslic began his tenure as Argyle head coach with a 1-1 draw at home to Oxford United last Tuesday but his side could not build on that when they faced QPR.

Grimshaw said: "Everyone knows the task he has come into, and he probably knows the challenge himself that we are not in the greatest place at the moment but I think with him there, with his structure, I think we can move on and try and get out of this situation. He has given us a clear idea of the way he wants us to play, with the ball and without the ball.

"There is no point sitting there feeling sorry for ourselves. We have got games Wednesday, Saturday and that's how it's going to be until the end of the season, we know that. We need to play games and win games, that's the only way we are going to get out of this situation."

He added: "We know the challenges that are coming up. They are two great teams we are going to face. They are right up there in the top end of the division, but we have shown in glimpses throughout the season that we can be a really good team as well so we have to put our best foot forward and show that on Wednesday."

One of the reasons Grimshaw was brought to Argyle from League One outfit Blackpool in August as the replacement for Michael Cooper after his move to Sheffield United was because of his ability to pass the ball out from the back, and play as a 'sweeper keeper' at times.

However, like all keepers, his main task is to prevent goals from being scored, and he and the rest of his Argyle team-mates have not done anywhere near good enough at that this season.

Grimshaw said: "Part of being a goalkeeper now is being good with your feet but our main thing is to keep the ball out the net. Obviously, this season we have conceded a lot of goals, some I admit I can do better on, and we have conceded way too many chances as well.

"I don't think we are doing that now. The chances we are conceding are a lot less and then I'm there to try and show what I can do and keep the ball out the net."

Grimshaw lost his place in the team following the 4-0 Boxing Day defeat at Coventry City as Conor Hazard, who had recovered from a long-term ankle injury, returned between the posts for the next four matches.

However, Hazard has since picked up another injury and Grimshaw has started against Oxford and QPR, and will most likely retain his place for the visit of Burnley.

Grimshaw said: "My idea when I came here was to play. Me and Conor get on and that's how I think it should be. We don't pick the team. Whoever is going to be in goal, we support each other, and that's where we go from.

"I have got to show my best when I play, and obviously Conor wants to do the same. It was a frustrating period being out the team. My chances here have come a bit when Conor has got injured, and obviously I would prefer it not to be that way, but I can only do what I can do when I'm on the pitch."

You can read more of our Argyle stories from Plymouth Live by clicking HERE