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Western United face a daunting run of interstate A-League matches, having not won outside their home state of Victoria this season.
Western United coach Mark Rudan says mentality is the key to ending his club's barren run outside Victoria, with a daunting run of interstate A-League games looming.
Saturday's 2-1 loss to Macarthur at Campbelltown Stadium was eighth-placed United's third loss in as many matches outside Victoria this season and their third defeat in their last four matches overall.
It was the first of a run of seven out of eight games outside Victoria before the end of April, with two of those fixtures technically home matches to be played In Launceston.
"We certainly need to win outside of Victoria and we haven't done that so far this year," Rudan said.
"It's going be a tough schedule. We've got a lot of games coming up as well, so we need to turn that around.
"For me, it's basically the mentality, thats all it is, irrespective of whether you're home or away.
"But we need to start turning and getting results away from home."
Defender Aaron Calver was substituted late in Saturday's game with a sore hamstring.
One positive for Rudan was the continued excellent form of 21-year-old Dylan Pierias, who joined Besart Berisha as United's joint top goalscorer on five, following a superb strike.
"He's very good in transition and he's improved a lot in the three months that we've worked with him," Rudan said.
"He continues to develop and he's getting better and better."
Macarthur climbed three places to third on the back of Saturday's win, but the clubs below them in the top six all have games in hand.
Bulls' coach Ante Milicic feels his fledgling club are travelling okay, as they approach the halfway point of their first A-League campaign, but is confident their best is still to come.
"At times and in patches we look good, but we just need to play better football for longer periods," Milicic said.
"We're not in a bad place but we truly believe that there's a lot more improvement in us moving forward."
