Revolution Vs. Whitecaps: New England Takes On Surging Vancouver

Foxborough, MA (Sports Network) - The New England Revolution will try to snap a poor run of form on Saturday at Gillette Stadium as the club hosts a surging Vancouver Whitecaps FC team.

The Revs are currently in a run of four losses in five games with the latest setback coming last weekend in a 2-1 defeat at Real Salt Lake.

New England took the lead in the first half through Blake Brettschneider, but allowed RSL to respond with two goals before the home side held on for the win.

Giving away leads has been an issue for head coach Jay Heaps and his team, as well as defending on set pieces, and both problems were evident in the latest defeat.

"I thought we came in with the right attitude," Heaps said after the match. "We did a lot of the right things, but, unfortunately, we gave up another game, a game where we did have it and we fought well. We have to be a little bit better in finishing games and not giving up goals on set pieces."

Seven of New England's next nine games will come at home, so the team will have a chance to rebound from its recent struggles, considering last weekend's loss was the third straight road setback for the club.

The Whitecaps should enter Saturday's match full of confidence having won their last three games, including a dramatic 2-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes last time out.

Striker Eric Hassli provided the decisive goal in stoppage time, and while the three points it gave Vancouver is important, it is also crucial that Hassli push on from that performance to rediscover the form that made him one of the better forwards in the league last season.

It was the first goal that Hassli has scored in his last 17 MLS games, and after scoring 10 goals last campaign, the Whitecaps would get a big boost from a return to that form.

Vancouver head coach Martin Rennie was obviously pleased with the win, but he felt it was important because it showed the growing belief his team is gaining.

"We are obviously very happy getting the win and to get the win the way we did," said Rennie. "I just think it shows what the club is starting to become. It shows a club that believes, a team that believes, even if it's the last minute, even if it's in stoppage time, you keep going and have that belief."

The Whitecaps have not only put three wins together for the first time in their MLS history, but the club will also be confident having kept a league- leading five clean sheets and allowing only six goals in eight games.

New England, by contrast, figures to have a tough time finding the net on Saturday with the Revs being blanked four times in seven games.