FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Different night, same old story for the New England Revolution.
And this particular narrative – error(s) leading to a tight 1-0 loss at home – is getting a bit old for just about everyone in the Revolution locker room.
In this particular instance, the circumstances surrounding this game (a winnable match against a Montreal Impact side with just four points on the road all season before the game) and the mistake in question (a series of missteps that allowed Sanna Nyassi to dribble from inside his own half to the edge of the Revolution penalty area before lashing home the winner) only served to leave the Revs more infuriated at the final whistle.
HIGHLIGHTS: NE 0, MTL 1
“[It's] heartbreaking, disappointing, not good enough,” Revolution coach Jay Heaps told MLSsoccer.com. “So we’re struggling to find the way a little bit and it’s a really bad loss at home.”
A dose of good fortune wouldn't hurt the cause. Although the Revs toiled for long stretches during the match, they did hit the post a couple of times and produced a couple of other chances that could have resulted in goals.
“It was a tough game,” Revolution defender Chris Tierney said. “I thought we started the game pretty well and created enough chances to get a goal. We can't get that bounce at the moment. When we do make mistakes, it seems like we get punished. It's disappointing, but we have to dig deep and fight hard down the stretch.”
OPTA Chalkboard: The X's and O's of Montreal's win
In order to reverse this run of poor form ahead of a two-match road swing through Chicago and Columbus, the Revs must raise their standards and show the necessary resolve to fight through this tough stretch. It may take a few changes to the current group to accomplish that particular goal at this point, according to Tierney.
“Guys have gotten comfortable in playing and expecting their spot,” Tierney said. “At this level, you have to earn it. That's become clear. I think there are a lot of guys who can come in, contribute and at least give 110 percent. I think Jay will look to get those guys on the field.”
