Battling Western Utd hope Mariners trip can turn season

United head north to take on reigning A-League Men champions Central Coast on Friday night amid a horror goalscoring run that has piled pressure on the players and their coach.

"The pressure I put on is on myself because I want to be competing at the top and competitive, but also I know that the big picture of what we're trying to achieve and what we're trying to do as a club," Aloisi said.

"We know as a club where we're at and we know where we're trying to head to, and so there's going to be certain bumps in the road.

"I've been around long enough as a player that's dealt with certain situations, as a coach already that's dealt with certain situations. So I know that how quickly it can change.

"If I didn't see the playing group so strong, I didn't see them still training the house down, still putting in all the effort, then I would start to be a little bit worried but I don't see that.

"I just see a group that's just wanting to keep on improving and if that's the case then I know it will turn."

Aloisi is confident his charges can turn the corner in Gosford.

"A change of scenery always helps and they'll be able to go for a walk tomorrow morning along the beach in Terrigal and have a coffee together and just be together, which is a little bit different to what they're used to when you're playing three games at home," he said.

"So it's a good change, but we know it's gonna be tough. We know we're in for a fight."

Aloisi's charges have scored just three goals in the opening six games of the season, despite often creating good chances.

"Look, sometimes in life you don't get what you deserve and the same in football," Aloisi said.

"Obviously everyone's seen the last four games that we deserved a lot more out of those four games, but we haven't got it and we just have to keep on working hard and improving and that's what we're doing.

"We've got a really good group that not once have looked for an excuse, not once have pointed fingers, they don't look for excuses.

"So that shows that we've got a strong group and once we do get through this period, and we believe we will, that will hold you in good stead to sustain results after that."

Australian Associated Press