Foxborough, MA (Sports Network) - Red Bull New York will try to bounce back
from a disappointing home loss midweek as the club continues its battle for
position in the Eastern Conference playoff picture with a road match at the
New England Revolution on Saturday.
New York had the opportunity to climb into first place in the East with a win
against Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday, but instead it was held to a 2-0
loss at Red Bull Arena, its first loss at the venue this season.
"Of course I'm surprised, it's a big game," said head coach Hans Backe after
the loss. "We're fighting to be number one and win, but [Sporting is] number
one. But we played so slow and couldn't come out in our attacking game, of
course everyone is disappointed."
The Red Bulls have made a habit of conceding early goals, and Wednesday's loss
to Sporting was no exception as C.J. Sapong and Kei Kamara provided the goals
inside the opening 20 minutes.
"That's how we've come out every game - home or away," said Red Bulls striker
Thierry Henry. "For the guys that follow us, that's the way we come out. I was
here the other day talking about Columbus and everybody was bragging about the
goal and about the win. I was talking about one thing: to start better and we
didn't."
New York and New England have faced each other twice this season, splitting
the series with the Red Bulls earning a 1-0 win at home on April 28 before
falling 2-0 to the Revs at Gillette Stadium on July 8.
The Revs have been eliminated from postseason contention already, but that
doesn't mean that they have nothing left to play for.
According to Ryan Guy, New England is focused on playing well with the hopes
of carrying some form into the beginning of next season.
"How we do right now is without a doubt going to carry over to next year," Guy
told the club's website. "This is our rebuilding year, we're going to call it
now, and I think next year there's going to be even more accountability to do
far better than we did this year."
Guy elaborated on the tribulations associated with working under the
circumstances of first-year head coach Jay Heaps.
"With a new coach - especially a coach like Jay who's just starting out - I
think it's been a good opportunity for him to really find what kind of players
he needs and wants around him," the midfielder continued. "We're all adjusting
to his style and I think he's demanding more of us to come to his style.
"I think it's melding well. I'm seeing it more and more every week in
training. The way he treats us as players is professional and top class and I
think it can only get better from here."
The Sports Network