Alen Stajcic has warned he is open to making changes to spark Western Sydney Wanderers out of their A-League Men slump after falling to a 2-1 defeat against Newcastle.
Stajcic's side have won just one of their past seven games after the Eli Adams-inspired Jets moved third with victory at CommBank Stadium on Saturday.
Despite boasting a frontline containing New Zealand international Kosta Barbarouses, Socceroos striker Brandon Borrello and Alou Kuol, the Wanderers have lacked quality in the final third all season.
The Wanderers have netted a league-low 10 goals this campaign and are only being kept off bottom spot by the financially stricken Central Coast Mariners.
"You've got to execute, there's no use having possession and territory and shots," Stajcic said.
"It's a competition for spots now.
"We've got Hiroshi (Ibusuki) coming in and hopefully another signing coming in for next week as well.
"There's massive competition for spots and the door has been left ajar."
Stajcic's side host Perth next week before facing bitter rivals Sydney FC, and currently look a million miles off featuring in this year's finals series.
The same cannot be said for Mark Milligan's Jets, who are threatening to end a seven-season finals drought after winning five of their past six games.
"We're not building towards this game, we're building to something bigger and we have to have that in our sights," Milligan said.
"I'm super proud of the group because we showed we have that resilience in us when we need to."
Milligan said Adams, who did not return in the second half because of a hamstring issue, was taken off as a precaution.
Adams got the Jets their breakthrough after 15 minutes when he picked up the ball on the right flank and cut inside to cross off his left foot.
The 23-year-old found Joe Shaughnessy with pinpoint precision as the Jets defender towered above Jarrod Carluccio and glanced his header into the back of Lawrence Thomas's goal.
Adams continued to threaten in open play, but he grabbed his goal from a set-piece after he drilled a 38th-minute free kick past Thomas.
Milligan noted how the Jets ought to have added a third to put the game beyond doubt in the second half.
A first ALM goal from teenage striker Awan Lual gave the Wanderers brief hope of a fightback, but Newcastle held on to claim the three points.
