Canberra coach Ricky Stuart can handle losing, but not seeing his players shoot themselves in the foot – repeatedly.

The Raiders chances of playing NRL finals this year slipped further away on Monday night when they lost 20-18 to Wests Tigers at GIO Stadium.

They are now four points outside the top eight with four games remaining.

It was the fifth time in eight losses at home in 2015 they’ve lost by four points or fewer.

“When you lose those types of games through probably a lack of discipline through being impatient, that’s the frustrating thing,” Stuart said.

“I can handle getting beaten – that’s not the drama.

“I just feel sorry for (the players), sitting in there (in the change rooms), especially when they shoot themselves in the foot like that.

“We’ve had that many times this year where we should’ve learnt from those experiences and we haven’t.

“It’s going to take a bit more time.”

An emotional Jarrod Croker said it was extremely frustrating for both players and fans.

“No one’s hurting as bad as we are,” the skipper said.

“It’s extremely disappointing but we’ve got to start learning from those tight ones and start winning them.”

Croker praised the Raiders’ forward pack, but lamented the number of missed opportunities.

“We need to be a bit more patient and work off the back of that,” he added.

They next face Manly at home on Sunday afternoon, before closing out the regular season with clashes against Gold Coast, Penrith and Parramatta.