Cambridge United head coach Garry Monk says getting a first win in League One this season will “unburden” his players.
The struggling U’s are bottom of the table after taking only one point from their five games so far.
That point came from their 4-4 draw against Blackpool last month – a game in which they trailed 4-1.
“It’s a strange situation,” Monk told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.
“The focus and attitude is spot-on but the overriding feeling is frustration.
“The want to win and need to win is there but you’re never going to be at your full confidence.”
Appointed in March on a two-year contract, Monk has already said his much-changed squad is capable of better results than they have managed so far, with his side winless after eight games in league and cup.
Ahead of the weekend’s trip to Wycombe, Monk has underscored that sentiment.
“They’re a very close group and normally when you’re not winning you’re searching for a real problem, but everything’s been spot-on from day one and I’ve never have a problem with the way they go about their work,” he said.
“In terms of spirits, they’re in a good place – and that’s a good sign. It gives me confidence they will turn it round sooner rather than later.
“There’s enough in the performances to show we’re capable of that. It’s a question of putting it all together.
“When they get that win I think you’ll see a burden off their shoulders – the longer you go and the talk goes – and even though I say ‘block out the outside noise’ they are human.
“If we can unburden ourselves with that win, I think you’ll see a different complexion to them and the whole feeling around us.”
Monk said he will use his own experience of the tough times he has had in his managerial career to help his squad deal with the situation.
“We’ve been through all that. We’ve had chats about the mental side of the game individually and collectively when we’re in situations like this because we’ve been through it,” he said.
“They’re not feeling sorry for themselves – I’ve not had to address that.
“I’ve said to them ‘it’s just the process’ – doing your best, what you do well and putting that on the pitch.
“When you’re winning you need to keep winning and when you’re losing you need to turn a loss into a draw or a draw into a win, just by doing that process.”
He added that there was no “magic recipe” and that mentality was “the biggest part” of turning things round.
“You need to focus on what you’re good at and fight for it every time every time you go on the pitch.
“If you can do that for the majority, or the whole, of the game, that’s when you’ll win.”
