FOXBOROUGH — Last August, the Revolution hit their stride with a five-game winning streak and riding that momentum to an appearance in the MLS Cup final.
As the calendar flips to August once more, New England is hoping to hit that stride again.
The team’s five-game losing streak earlier this summer is in the rearview mirror. The Revolution have shown better tactical shape offensively and defensively, helping them to a 1-0 win against New York City FC on July 18 and a 2-2 draw against the Chicago Fire last Saturday.
New England is looking to keep trending upward as it prepares to host Toronto FC at Gillette Stadium on Saturday.
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“This is the part of the season that we love and we look forward to,” midfielder Lee Nguyen said. “I mean, all the teams are close right now and every point matters, every game matters.”
New England’s shape the last two games has allowed the team to be more fluid on the offensive end, and that translates to goals. Coach Jay Heaps said it is the first time the team has showed solid shape since a pair of 2-1 losses in late June, to D.C. United and Vancouver.
Heaps said the shape just wasn’t good enough in 3-0 and 4-1 losses to FC Dallas and the New York Red Bulls in July.
“I think from after that point there was a longer session on the film, and obviously a lot of field time on getting guys in the right spot defensively so that we can then be in a better position to attack,” Heaps said
“When we’re at our best, we’re hard to break down. And when we get the ball, we keep it and move it. And then when the ball turns over, we’re still in a better shape because we’re more advanced and now it’s harder to break through our whole line.”
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The Revolution’s attack works from back to front. Heaps said a defensive improvement over the last two games has enabled the offensive fluidity. Nguyen has been a beneficiary. He scored the lone goal in New England’s win against New York City, thanks in no small part to some nifty ball movement from fellow midfielders Diego Fagundez and Daigo Kobayashi.
Nguyen also scored against the Fire.
“Starting positions are good, and we’re winning the ball and we’re possessing,” Nguyen said. “Everybody’s moving, the balls have been fluid. And then, we’re playing quick too. And when we play quick it opens up space and I think everyone’s feeling confident on the ball now.”
Midfielder James Jones’s injection back into the lineup could also boost New England’s confidence. He provided a crucial spark after his Aug. 24 signing last year, but had surgery for a sports hernia in June.
Jones was available in Chicago but didn’t play. Heaps said it’s too early to tell what his role will be Saturday.
“He’s a little bit further along,” Heaps said. “But we’re still in a day-by-day [situation].”
Heaps also said it’s too early to tell who will be in goal Saturday. After Bobby Shuttleworth suffered a concussion in practice on July 15, Brad Knighton stepped in the past two games for just his second and third starts of the season.
“I think Brad has done a very good job, and I think he communicates well and he’s made the right play when he’s needed to make the right play,” Heaps said.
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Whether it’s Knighton or Shuttleworth, New England’s goalkeeper could have his hands full with Toronto’s 5-foot-4-inch forward Sebastian Giovinco. Giovinco, second in the league with 13 goals, is questionable for Saturday’s game with an injured heel.
New England (7-9-7) and Toronto (8-7-4) are tied for fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 28 points apiece, 10 points back of first-place D.C. United.
If the Revolution continue recent trends Saturday, it could mean an important 3 points.
“I think if we keep playing the same way we’ve been playing and not letting some fouls dictate the games, I think we can definitely get points,” Fagundez said. “And, the last couple games that [are] coming up are going to be important. So we have to do everything we can to get points now.”