Lazio coach Davide Ballardini heads into Sunday's game at Siena trying to maintain a positive outlook despite the club's poor start to the season.

Wednesday's 1-0 loss against Cagliari extended the Roman outfit's winless streak to eight games and saw them drop to 15th in the standings, one point clear of the drop zone.

Lazio's last win in the league was on August 30, and that has left Ballardini under pressure.

Ballardini, who joined the Roman outfit in the summer following the departure of Delio Rossi, has taken the blame for his team's poor run of form.

"Fans have a right to protest if things don't go well," he said.

"I am the first person responsible for this situation.

"We accept that the fans are not happy but I saw an improvement against Cagliari with respect to our previous performance at Bari.

"I can only say 'thank you' to my players for the will and the determination shown.

"We have to keep showing the same will in our coming games."

With just two wins in 10 games, the Eternal City club know it is time to deliver.

In an attempt to wipe away any possible distractions for the players, Lazio left for Siena on Thursday to focus on tomorrow's game.

"We have taken this decision because we are worried about the situation in which we find ourselves," said Lazio sporting director Igli Tare.

"We must remain concentrated and work with our heads down.

"We are all disappointed because there is a will to do well.

"We are lacking a little bit of luck to turn around our season but we have the means to find the right path."

Tare has pleaded with the Biancoceleste fans to help the team in this difficult run.

"Our supporters need to be close to us in order to help us," he said. "They must be an added value to this team.

"We need to take it one game at a time and not focus on the long term.

"The game at Siena will be very important."

When asked if a defeat at Siena would threaten Ballardini's job, Tare said: "I don't even want to think about this possibility.

"I'm not thinking negative thoughts and I don't want to answer that type of question."

If Lazio are mired in a slump, the situation for Siena is even worse.

Defeat on Wednesday at Bologna was their seventh of the season and, as a consequence, the club showed coach Marco Giampaolo the door and promoted youth coach Marco Baroni.

Giampaolo, who had joined the Bianconeri in the summer of 2008, was the sixth coaching casualty of the Serie A season.

Baroni will make his debut with Siena having collected just five points and one win from 10 games.

"We have a very difficult task ahead," said Baroni. "I have spoken to the lads and we need to show more self-confidence and focus to do well in our next game against Lazio."

The hosts will be without suspended midfield duo Michele Fini and Simone Vergassola.