IT WAS far from convincing, but Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney was pleased just to get a win after his side snuck past Greater Western Sydney on Saturday afternoon.

The Bulldogs had lost three straight games heading into the clash with the winless Giants, including last week's upset loss to Melbourne.

McCartney knows a four-point win over the AFL's bottom side is hardly something to write home about, but he said it was far more preferable than the alternative.

"We maybe could've put them to sleep a bit earlier in the last quarter if we'd been a bit smarter with the ball," McCartney said.

"We found a way to miss goals … but we needed a win for our club.

"The alternative was a lot more disappointing.

"Clearly they (GWS) geared up for a big day. They sensed that they could get us and wanted to get us and they were pretty physical with us.

"We're not used to being hunted."

The prospect of handing the Giants their first win of the season, coupled with the loss to the Demons, would have left McCartney under enormous pressure.

The Dogs also have an extremely tough schedule ahead, featuring games against Essendon, Hawthorn, West Coast and the Swans.

But the idea of being the first coach to lose to GWS this year hadn't crossed McCartney's mind.

"It was more a relief just to get a win," he said.

"We made some mistakes today but there was still a lot of effort from a lot of people.

"We just have to play better than that, score more and be better at stopping the ball moving where it shouldn't go around the ground.

"They're not short of talent (GWS). I think you have to remember that.

"They set themselves for a massive day and we still did enough to win with a very young team ourselves."