FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Although frustrated by a late lapse, there’s reason to believe that the New England Revolution took more than just a point from last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Orlando City SC.
Lessons were learned in the Florida heat as the Revs couldn’t make a 2-0 lead hold up, conceding twice in the final 15 minutes to see a fourth straight win turn instead into a disappointing draw.
It was the Revolution’s somewhat timid approach after scoring a second goal which was their downfall, according to the players, and it’s a mistake they’ll be careful to avoid repeating in the future.
“Once it was a 2-0 lead, we kind of sat back a little too much,” said Scott Caldwell. “We’ve got to still play our game. We can’t be too comfortable.”
Charlie Davies, who scored for the fourth straight game in Orlando, referenced the Revolution’s propensity for coming from behind last year, when they registered four comeback wins during the final two months of the regular season.
Now, Davies said, the Revs must learn to deal with being on the other side of the equation.
“We just have to learn how to play better when we have the lead,” he said. “When we go up a goal, I think it’s important for us to continue to attack and keep possession, and keep teams on their back foot.
“I think we learned a lot [against Orlando] and fortunately we still got a point. Now we have to come into Saturday (against Toronto FC) with a killer instinct and really look to pounce on them early.”
Davies excited about head-to-head matchup with former teammate Damien Perquis
Early this week Davies posted a picture to Twitter showing himself celebrating a U.S. National Team goal with Jozy Altidore, who’ll line up as Davies’ opponent on Saturday night.
Asked about facing his close friend for the first time when Toronto FC visits Gillette Stadium, Davies called the game “a huge matchup for us and for me personally,” adding that Altidore isn’t the only former teammate and confidante he’ll be matched up against.
TFC center back Damien Perquis played alongside Davies while the pair was at French club Sochaux, and the Revolution striker is looking forward to the chance to get the best of his old friend.
“I’m really looking forward to playing against him,” Davies said. “It’s been a long time and it’s going to be one of those things where he’s going to do everything he can to knock me off my game, and I’m going to do everything I can to put the ball in the back of the net.”
Competition for starting spots gives training sessions an extra edge
With Davies, Juan Agudelo and Teal Bunbury spearheading the Revolution’s formidable attack in recent weeks, minutes have been harder to come by for players like Diego Fagundez and Kelyn Rowe.
Rowe came off the bench to score New England’s second goal last weekend in Orlando to make his case for a return to the starting lineup, but he also sees each and every training session as an opportunity for all players to continue pushing each other for those coveted starting spots.
“[Training] is very competitive; I think it has been for the past year,” Rowe said. “We’ve always had depth in this team and it really shows this year, especially on the wings and up front.
“I think it’s good, and training gets better and better. You’ve got guys like Diego and myself and Steve Neumann just champing at the bit right now to get back in the starting lineup.”
Packwood begins training stint as Revs search for defensive depth
It wasn’t difficult to identify Will Packwood on Tuesday morning. The 6-foot-3 defender was the tallest player on the field as he joined the Revolution for training after recently being released from his contract with English Championship side Birmingham City.
Packwood, a soon-to-be-22-year-old native of Concord, Massachusetts, has spent most of his young career as a center back, admittedly an area of need for the Revolution with the versatile Darrius Barnes lost for six months and stalwart Jose Goncalves hampered by a nagging calf injury.
“He’s a big boy,” said Jermaine Jones, who has filled in at central defense in recent weeks. “Right now we’re struggling a little bit with center backs, so it’s good to have him here.
“You can see in training that he’s hungry. He wants to show that he’s good.”
