Udinese aim to kickstart campaign

Posted Saturday, January 18, 2014 by PA

Udinese believe they can turn their season around as they head into Sunday's match against Lazio.

The Friuli outfit have won just six of their 19 games so far and stand 15th in Serie A, four points clear of the drop zone at the halfway point of the campaign.

"We expected an altogether different first half of the campaign," Udinese midfielder Bruno Fernandes said.

"We are disappointed even though we knew this would be a difficult year for us.

"From now on we will try to start a new cycle and improve in the standings."

Francesco Guidolin's men go into this weekend's match on the back of a 3-0 defeat at Sampdoria. That result followed their 3-1 home reverse against Hellas Verona.

"I don't think we have a problem in attack," Fernandes said. "We are very unlucky and we just have to create more goalscoring chances and be more focused at the back."

Udinese should fancy their chances of taking a positive result against a Lazio side that have yet to win on the road in Serie A this season.

The Rome side, who are ninth in the standings, were held to a goalless draw at Bologna at the weekend, much to the disappointment of coach Edy Reja.

"We didn't even take a shot on goal," Reja said. "We do a good job on defence but we fail to put a good move together up front.

"The fact is that when we play away from home the team seems to play with fear. It cannot be like this, you can lose a game but you have to at least try to win."

Lazio showed a vast improvement in Tuesday's 2-1 triumph over Parma in the Coppa Italia.

Brayan Perea's two goals allowed the cup holders to reach the quarter-finals of the competition and set up a meeting with Napoli.

Lazio will be without midfielder Cristian Ledesma who must serve a one-match ban.

The hosts will be without defender Gabriel and midfielder Allan Loureiro, who are suspended.

Udinese captain Antonio Di Natale will be hoping to end his goalscoring drought, with the Italian veteran striker having failed to find the back of the net since October 30.