When the San Jose Earthquakes failed to win at home for the third consecutive time last week against Columbus, it was more than just a blown opportunity at getting three points. They also missed a chance to pad their record prior to a brutal stretch that will see them play seven of their next nine games on the road, a spell that will begin this Saturday when they travel to New England to take on the Revolution.
The irony is that San Jose has accrued more points on the road (three) than they have at home (one), courtesy of their April 19 win at Colorado. For that reason, head coach Frank Yallop remains upbeat, even as the team seems poised to follow the same dark path as the league's other recent expansion entries.
"Our individual play hasn't been bad, to be honest," said Yallop. "I just think our collective teamwork has not been on the same page at the right times in games, and it has cost us. Are the players poor? I don't think so. One thing they are doing is they're not quitting and they're keeping going and that's a great sign."
Yallop has other reasons to be optimistic. Revs forward Taylor Twellman, who just recently returned to the field following surgery to his right knee, suffered a sprained left ankle in last week's 2-1 win against Chivas USA, and seems likely to sit out the match. There is also the return of Quakes defender Ryan Cochrane from a concussion he sustained just more than two weeks ago.
But those good vibrations have been tempered by the news that both Peguero Jean Philippe and Gavin Glinton will miss the game due to injury. Jean Philippe complained of swelling in his surgically repaired right knee following the Columbus match, and while an MRI revealed nothing of note, the Haitian has been ruled out for Saturday. Glinton flew to Germany earlier this week and is slated to undergo surgery for a sports hernia. In their absence, Ned Grabavoy looks set to partner Kei Kamara, with either Ronnie O'Brien or Joe Vide moving into the center of midfield.
The injuries occurred just as San Jose's attack had begun to show some life. The Quakes broke through for two goals last week against the Crew, although both tallies came from set pieces. It has now been more than four league and cup games since San Jose scored from open play. But Yallop remains convinced that it's only a matter of time for the team's solid approach work to translate into goals, even without two of his top three forwards.
"We need to just do what we've been doing," said Yallop. "I think that we've been creating chances, and I'm sure some are going to start flying in. ... It's going to change, it's going to come."
With Nick Garcia a game-time decision due to a groin strain, Cochrane's return is even more welcome, especially after the Quakes conceded three goals late goals against the Crew. Two of those were scored by Columbus speedster Robbie Rogers, and given the pace of New England attackers Khano Smith, Kenny Mansally, and Sainey Nyassi, it's imperative that San Jose copes better with that aspect of the Revs' attack. For Yallop, better recognition of when teams are trying to get behind the defense is critical.
"If I look at our guys, they're not slow," said Yallop. "When you're flat-footed, and holding the line, they don't need to be that quick to go in and score. It wasn't a footrace where we got outpaced. On the first two goals, I think if we had dropped correctly, we could have cut [the pass] out."
Yallop has spent much of the past week driving home that message, but if the Quakes are to increase their point total on the road, they'll need to stifle other elements of the Revs' offense, and perhaps use New England's impulse to attack against them.
"We know they're going to want to come out and push the game," said defender James Riley, who will be returning to Gillette Stadium for the first time as a visiting player. "As long as we can bend and not break, keep them in front of us, I think we'll do well."
Jeff Carlisle is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
