Even in the middle of a 352-minute shutout streak, New England Revolution head coach Steve Nicol wants his team to get better defensively ahead of Saturday night's clash with Toronto FC.
As most of the team went through a passing drill on Friday morning, Nicol pulled aside his reconfigured back four -- now with Jay Heaps restored at left back after his tour of CONCACAF Gold Cup duty with the United States -- and had them work on stepping out as a unit as he tried to play crosses in behind the backline.
"In the past couple of games, we haven't done quite as well as Coach wanted," Revolution defender Kevin Alston said. "We've been fortunate not to concede a goal. That's why we're working on it here, so it's better in the next game."
Although Nicol can still find ways to improve the recently stingy defense, he had plenty of praise for the way the unit has performed over the past few weeks. Since Alecko Eskandarian scored eight minutes into Los Angeles' 1-0 win over the Revs on July 4, New England hasn't conceded. The combination of good decision-making and good communication has fueled the recent scoreless streak, according to Nicol.
"If you make bad decisions in your own last third, then teams are going to get chances," Nicol said. "If you don't communicate back there, then you can't work as a unit. If you do both of those things, chances are that you're going to do well."
Now that the Revs are starting to find their defensive rhythm and restore most of their wounded bodies to the squad, defender Darrius Barnes thinks the experience the young backline has accrued over the course of the first half of the season will pay significant dividends.
"Once you start to play well and win a few games, that confidence starts to build up a little bit," Barnes said. "As far as the backline and the chemistry, we've had the same core group of guys in there for much of the season, so that's definitely been a huge help. We're starting to hit our stride a little bit. We can build the rest of the way."
Nicol is expected to insert Heaps back into the starting lineup in place of Chris Tierney, but others are also pushing for a return to the starting lineup.
Edgaras Janakauskas is fit again after recovering from the hamstring injury that has sidelined him for the past two weeks. The Lithuanian striker picked up a knock on his foot during training earlier this week, but Nicol said that slight injury won't rule him out of the squad against the Reds.
Shalrie Joseph could also be in line for a larger role after playing the second half in last Saturday's 1-0 win against Houston. Nicol said Joseph's bothersome right knee continues to improve.
"He's getting stronger," Nicol said. "The problem with Shalrie is that he always thinks more is better. He wants to keep working and working, but his knee is telling him to slow down and he's done with that. He's listening to the (trainers) and he's getting the benefit (of it). He feels stronger and better."
Nicol might also apply those adjectives to midfielder Jeff Larentowicz, who is expected to make his 100th league appearance in a Revolution uniform against TFC. Nicol praised Larentowicz's form this season -- the Revs coach suggested on Friday that Larentowicz would have fit well on the MLS All-Star team -- and indicated that he has matured as a player over the past few seasons.
Larentowicz and his teammates will have their hands full trying to keep two streaks alive. In addition to the current shutout streak (one that would set a new team record if the Revs can keep TFC off the board for 33 minutes), the Revolution enter this match unbeaten against the Reds at Gillette Stadium (3-0-0).
"I have no idea," Nicol said when asked to explain the streak. "Hopefully, we go about our business, whether it's Toronto or anybody else. We think that when we do the stuff we are good at well that we'll give anybody a tough time. Maybe Toronto's just come in and caught us on those days. I wouldn't say there's anything in particular that sticks out."
Toronto's three-pronged attack won't alter the Revolution's preference to focus on their own game, according to Barnes.
"We pretty much want to play the same way," Barnes said. "We don't want to change our playing style. We just have to adapt to their three up front. They have a target and two players running off of that, so you just have to be a little bit more aware, but as far as our playing style and our shape, nothing really changes."
Except, perhaps, the way the Revolution back four steps out in unison.
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
