FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – After a win and a draw in their last two matches, the New England Revolution hope they have put their frustrating five-match losing streak behind them, thanks in large part to regaining the defensive shape that paced them earlier in the season.
“We were in the same position last year,” said Lee Nguyen, referencing the eight-match losing streak New England endured last season. “We just had to get together and know that it was going to be a grind. We had to fight hard. I think tactically, too, we were starting to be in better shape defensively, which helped out our offense as well.”
“It’s a combination of what our shape looks like to allow us to be in better positions to attack and be a little more fluid and dangerous on the attack,” said head coach Jay Heaps. “The key: It starts with where we are defensively, to make sure that we’re sound there as we move forward. I though the last two games, we’ve been better defensively as a group.”
Heaps went on to reference the club’s road loss against D.C. United on June 21 as the last time the team had been as “sound” in their defensive shape.
“There was a lull there, about three or four games,” said Heaps, noting that they did have a man sent off at home against Vancouver.
Over the last two games, both goals surrendered against Chicago came in the aftermath of set pieces, just another area the Revolution know they need to tidy up. But New England are drawing confidence from the shutout against New York City FC on July 18 and holding Chicago without a goal from the run of play, hopefully addressing the heart of the matter.
“The two goals we gave up were set pieces, so we have to be better on those, obviously,” said Heaps. “In terms of the run-of-play defending, I was happy with it.”
One factor that should be noted is the pending return of Jermaine Jones. The Designated Player has not played since May 31 (missing eight league games) due to a groin injury but was on the bench last weekend against Chicago. The Revs hope his return to the lineup will jumpstart the team's charge for the playoffs, much as it did last season, when the Revs were 8-1-1 in Jones' 10 games played down the stretch.
