New England Revolution head coach Jay Heaps
Importance of the win in the playoff picture
Knowing that definitely keeps you out of four-five [match]. I think it’s huge, I think we
know we were going for that. As you can tell at the end there, we risked a lot to go for it because we knew that the three points was going to put us in a position not to have a game midweek of the following week.
Thoughts on the performance tonight?
Tonight was a team effort all the way through. We relied on some of the younger guys to lift us through. To be fair, I thought we started really well, they gave up a goal I thought was a little bit unfair. I thought we could have been tied at least. Second half I thought our subs came in and really impacted the game. Kevin [Alston] first of all coming in first for the injured Farrell and then Charlie [Davies] and Jermaine [Jones] obviously just literally took the game away.
What was the thought process in making the changes from the previous week?
You know, I think it was a quick turn around and I think it’s good to get some depth. I think Neumann had a nice night, I thought Scottie [Caldwell] getting back in the lineup was really good and Mullins needed a game and I we talked to Charlie [Davies] all week about impacting a game in the 30 minutes, and Mullins went up there and battled and I thought it was a good one-two punch with Charlie and his pace.
Is that about what you were hoping to get out of Jermaine Jones tonight?
Yes. You concentrate for 30 minutes and I would have liked to not have to use him, but actually it was a game calling for him. In the middle we were getting overrun a little bit — I thought Ricardo Clark had a good game — so we needed to solidify with Jermaine I think and get the change.
New England Revolution midfielder Jermaine Jones
Was 30 minutes what you had in the tank after a busy week?
Yes. Me and coach were talking about if I play or if I stay completely out. I think it’s always nice to play and I told him that I want to go on the pitch, I want to play and I think when we watch the game now, I’m happy that he brought me in and we could win the game. Now we have time to rest and look forward.
On the first goal
Yeah it was a nice goal for him [Lee Nguyen]. He’s scored a lot of goals for this team this
season, he’s an important player but I think the big point is that it’s nice to see the guys who came from the bench don’t put their heads down. Everybody comes in and gives a 100 percent, that helps the team and we stay in a row and win the game.
How important is the win as far as playoff positioning?
I think it’s always nice to win. If you win, everybody is happy and you can look forward to the next game, and you know Toronto in the playoffs will be hard. If you stay on the road and win all your games, everything will happen in the playoffs.
Some time to rest coming for you?
Yes, I will fly tomorrow, I fly back home to LA to see my family and try to chill, hang around with kids, have a good time and come back and be focused for Toronto.
