FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The stretch run of the 2015 regular season kicks into high gear on Saturday night when the New England Revolution hosts fellow Eastern Conference playoff contender Toronto FC.
The Revs (7-9-7, 28 pts.) and TFC (8-7-4, 28 pts.) enter this weekend’s meeting level on points in the East standings, although the Canadian side has the advantage of holding four games in hand.
Kickoff from Gillette Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday night, with coverage in English on both Comcast SportsNet and 98.5 The Sports Hub, and in Portuguese on WMVX 1570 AM.
Stay tuned to CSNNE after the final whistle for Revolution Postgame Live, hosted by Dalen Cuff and with analysis from former Revolution midfielder Khano Smith.
Current Form: Revs feel they’re “starting to turn the page”; TFC continue high-scoring ways
Lee Nguyen and Kelyn Rowe both scored their fourth goals of the season last weekend at Toyota Park, where the Revs snapped a six-game road losing streak in a 2-2 draw with the Chicago Fire.
New England were left a bit frustrated not to have taken the full three points home from Bridgeview, but with four points from their last two games and – more importantly – improved performances in recent weeks, the Revs are confident they’re starting to put things together heading into the final three months of the regular season.
WATCH: Rowe’s late equalizer helps Revs earn first road point since early May
“We’ve definitely been playing well, playing better as a team,” said Scott Caldwell, who helped set up Nguyen’s opener at Toyota Park. “There’s still work to be done, though. We’re seeing that and we’re going to work on it again this week and be ready to go on the weekend.”
Toronto has secured just one win in their last five league games (1-1-3), but they’ve also lost just twice through an 11-game span (5-2-4), buoyed in large part by an Eastern-Conference-best 1.63 goals per game average.
Led by league MVP frontrunner Sebastian Giovinco (13 goals, 10 assists), Toronto FC have scored seven goals in their past two road games, including a wild 3-3 draw last weekend at MAPFRE Stadium where TFC erased a 3-0 second-half deficit.
“That game is pretty obvious what they can do and how explosive they can be when they do present problems,” said Jay Heaps.
Past Meetings: Revs aim to stretch unbeaten run against TFC to six games
Michael Bradley’s solo run and finish early in the second half erased Juan Agudelo’s first-half opener as the Revs and TFC played to a 1-1 draw at Gillette Stadium back on May 16.
WATCH: U.S. National Teamers trade goals as Revs and TFC finish level at 1-1
The result snapped a string of three consecutive Revolution wins in the series – they swept the matchup last year – but extended New England’s unbeaten run against TFC to five games (3-0-2) dating back to August 2013.
Toronto has won just twice in 11 all-time visits to Gillette Stadium – a pair of 1-0 wins in 2012 and 2013.
Injury Report: Jones hoping to make long-awaited return; Tierney dealing with ankle knock
Jermaine Jones was part of the 18-man squad for last weekend’s trip to Chicago, and this weekend he’s hoping to take the next step and actually return to the field after missing eight games following surgery.
READ: With Jones on verge of return, Revs say he’s “coming back at the right time”
Jones is listed as questionable on the Revolution’s official injury report along with starting left back Chris Tierney, who had to withdraw from Wednesday night’s MLS All-Star game with left ankle irritation. Tierney was limited early in the week, but increased his participation in training in recent days.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth – who was available on the bench last weekend at Toyota Park as a backup to Brad Knighton – has fully recovered from the concussion which sidelined him two weeks ago.
On the TFC side, both Bradley and Giovinco are question marks for Saturday night’s game after they, too, were forced to withdraw from the All-Star game because of injury.
Final Thoughts: Davies says clash with TFC “like a cup final” for the Revolution
“It’s like a cup final for us,” said Davies. “It’s an Eastern Conference opponent – a rival, if you will – and these games are the games we have to win three points at home. We have to win. We have to go into it as if, if we don’t win, we’re not making the playoffs.
“A game like this is huge and we have to come into it with the right mentality, which I think we have, and the right game plan. I think we’re really coming together as a team at the moment and I’m really looking forward to Saturday. I think we know what we have to do and we just have to go out there and do it.”
