Revolution vs. Red Bulls 2013 Round Two: Preview and Game Notes

The New England Revolution have a chance to put Wednesday's disappointing result behind them, but it won't be easy. On just two days' rest, they'll be taking on Eastern Conference leaders the New York Red Bulls at Gillette Stadium tonight.

New England has a good record at home against New York, maintaining an 18-4-6 mark in Foxboro, and the Red Bulls haven't won at Gillette. In fact, the Revs have a pretty good record against the New York franchise overall, going 26-20-13 since the league's inception.

Tonight's match is going to be about balancing fitness and exhaustion concerns while trying to ignite the stuttering attack. New York blasted the Revs 4-1 at Red Bull Arena a few weeks ago, so the defense is apt to play like they have something to prove. They'll be aided by the absence of Thierry Henry, who has never seen a FieldTurf pitch he wanted to play on.

REVOLUTION INJURY REPORT

OUT: Kevin Alston (Disabled List, Illness), A.J. Soares (R Hamstring Strain)
QUESTIONABLE: Juan Agudelo (L Hamstring Strain), Stephen McCarthy (L Adductor Strain), Donnie Smith (L Groin Strain)

RED BULLS INJURY REPORT

OUT: Ian Christanson (R Foot Injury), Digao (Heel Injury), Peguy Luyindula (L Hamstring Strain)
QUESTIONABLE: Dax McCarty (R Quadriceps Strain), Ryan Meara (Hip Surgery Recovery)

TEAM NOTES

• Saturday's game will mark the 60th regular-season meeting and 68th all-time between the Revolution and Red Bulls in MLS regular-season, postseason and tournament action combined, which is the most meetings against any opponent in Revs history
• The Revs lead the all-time, regular-season series with the New York Red Bulls (formerly the New York/New Jersey MetroStars), 26-20-13
• At home, the Revs are 18-4-6 against New York all time in the MLS regular season, including a 9-1-5 record at Gillette Stadium...the lone loss at Gillette Stadium came on June 29, 2002 - a 2-0 loss to the Metrostars
• Since New York and re-branded as the Red Bulls in 2006, the Revs have not lost to New York at home, posting a 6-0-3 record at Gillette Stadium
• Since the Red Bulls re-branded from the Metrostars in 2006, the Revs have posted an 8-4-8 record against New York...all four losses against the "Red Bulls" have come at Red Bull Arena
• Overall, the Revs enter Saturday's game riding a 16-game regular-season home undefeated streak against New York since the end of the 2002 season...the Revs have gone 11-0-5 at Gillette Stadium in regular-season meetings since New York's last win in Foxborough on June 29, 2002.
• Wednesday's match is the second of three regular-season meetings between the two clubs this year
• The teams will close the three-game series at Red Bull Arena on Oct. 5
• The Red Bulls won the first game of the three-game 2013 season series, a 4-1 victory on April 20 at Red Bull Arena...it was the first time the Revs allowed four or more goals to New York since September 17, 2005, a 5-4 MetroStars win at Giants Stadium
• Five of the last eight games have been one-goal games or draws, dating back to May 29, 2010...in those five "close" games, the Revs are 1-2-2...the largest margin of victory in that span was two goals - by the Red Bulls in 2-0 victory on Oct. 21, 2010 and by New England in 2-0 win on July 8, 2012
• New England and New York have met in the postseason three times - all since 2003 - and the Revs have eliminated New York on each occasion...the clubs most recent playoff encounter was in the 2007 Eastern Conference Semifinal Series, which the Revs won, 1-0, on aggregate

PLAYER NOTES

• Newly-acquired forward Juan Agudelo began his professional career with the Red Bulls, becoming the club's first-ever Homegrown signing to debut for the first team in 2010...Agudelo made 33 appearances between 2010 and 2012, scoring six goals and two assists with New York
• Chad Barrett has scored four goals against New York, all coming in 2008 - two each while playing with Chicago and Toronto
• Andy Dorman, despite not playing a game against New York since 2007, is the Revs' leading active scorer against the Red Bulls with two goals...Dorman's last goal against the Red Bulls came on July 7, 2007, in a 1-0 win at Giants Stadium
• Jerry Bengtson scored his first career goal in his MLS debut against New York when the two teams met on July 8, 2012
• Lee Nguyen has one goal in three appearances against New York...Nguyen scored the game-winner on July 8, 2012, in Foxborough
• Chris Tierney leads all current Revolution players with two assists in seven appearances - including the game-winning assist on July 8, 2012
• Matt Reis is 10-4-7 in his Revolution career against the Red Bulls, posting a 1.27 goals against average and six shutouts
• Bobby Shuttleworth is 2-2-2 in his Revolution career against New York, with a 1.81 goals against average and one shutout...Shuttleworth - a native of Tonawanda, New York (a Buffalo suburb) - was in goal for the Revs' 4-1 loss on April 20

BROADCAST INFORMATION

TV: CSN New England, 7:30 PM EST
RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub, 7:30 PM EST