It was a heartbreaking end to Carlton’s Round 4 clash on Sunday, falling two points short to Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.

The four points were well within reach for the Blues at the end of the scrappy match, but a lack of composure in the eleventh hour saw them winless for another week.

With frustration mounting after a string of close losses, Head of Football Brad Lloyd has stressed the luckless Blues are on the right course.

“There is belief across the footy department and club in the direction we’re going,” Lloyd said on SEN on Monday.

“We’ve just got to stick at it and improve that decision-making.”

The Blues’ scoring opportunities have been limited to date, with a lack of cohesion between their dynamic midfield and emerging forward line.

“It’s really that cohesion between the midfielders and the forwards,” he said.

“The midfielders showing composure to choose the right option, but the forwards from a positioning point of view.”

With Mitch McGovern entering the fold with Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow, Lloyd has stressed the need for patience as the new-look forward jells.

“Mitch, Charlie and Harry have only played a couple of AFL games together and they need to keep building that connection as a forward group,” he said.

“When the ball is coming into the forward line, they need to be well-positioned to provide an option, so we were a bit off with that yesterday.”

Lloyd echoed the disappointment of fans for Carlton’s frustrating start to the season but maintains faith in the direction of the club.

“Every game we have been just off and that is frustrating,” he said.

“In these situations, scrutiny is going to come but you’ve just got to dig in and get through it.”