Revolution vs. Salt Lake 2013: Preview and Game Notes

Tonight marks the start of a quick back-to-back home stand for the New England Revolution as they welcome Real Salt Lake to Gillette Stadium. New England is looking to build off of two positive performances, including a 2-0 win over Philadelphia and a creditable 0-0 draw with Portland. Salt Lake, meanwhile, will arrive on the backs of a two-game series that serves as an accurate cross-section their season: a 2-0 win over Vancouver and a 0-2 loss to LA.

RSL has been the dominant party in the series between the two teams. New England has posted just a 4-7-4 record against the team from Utah since Salt Lake was an expansion side in 2005. That includes a poor 2-3-2 mark at home. The Revs haven't beaten RSL since 2009, going 0-4-1 since then.

As we discussed with Matt Montgomery earlier in the week, Salt Lake has been marred by inconsistency in 2013, due mostly to the squad's personnel core undergoing a significant overhaul in the offseason. Regardless, the team's true strength lies in its spine, anchored by the strong play of goalkeeper Nick Rimando, defenders Nat Borchers and Chris Schuler, and holding midfielder Kyle Beckerman. It's an imposing group to play against, and difficult to break down.

REVOLUTION INJURY REPORT

OUT: Kevin Alston (Disabled List; Illness), Donnie Smith (L Groin Strain), A.J. Soares (R Hamstring Strain)
QUESTIONABLE: Andrew Farrell (L Knee Contusion), Stephen McCarthy (L Adductor Strain), Clyde Simms (Concussion)

SALT LAKE INJURY REPORT

OUT: Alvaro Saborio (R Quad Tear), Rich Balchan (L Shoulder Separation), Cole Grossman (Concussion)
QUESTIONABLE: Olmes Garcia (R Adductor Strain), Robbie Findley (L Knee Hyperextension), Yordany Alvarez (R Ankle Contusion)

TEAM NOTES

• Wednesday's match will be the 16th all-time meeting between the Revolution and Real Salt Lake, which entered the league as an expansion team in 2005...RSL leads the all-time series, 7-4-4
• The Revs are 2-3-2 in home matches against Real Salt Lake, with the club's last home win coming on August 23, 2009, a 3-1 win
• Wednesday's match is the first - and only - meeting between the two teams this season
• RSL won the teams' lone meeting in 2012, a 2-1 come-from-behind victory on May 5 at Rio Tinto Stadium
• The Revs are 2-7-2 in their last 11 meetings with Real Salt Lake after going undefeated (2-0-1) in the first three games of the all-time series
• Real Salt Lake is 4-0-1 against New England in the teams' last five meetings...the last Revs win came on Aug. 23, 2009 - a 3-1 win at Gillette Stadium
• Since 2009, Real Salt Lake has outscored New England, 21-8, in seven meetings
• New England and Real Salt Lake have never met in any MLS Cup Playoff or U.S. Open Cup matches

PLAYER NOTES

• Despite not playing RSL as a member of the Revs, Chad Barrett is the team's current leading scorer against RSL...the forward has scored four goals in 14 games while with Chicago, Toronto and LA
• Sainey Nyassi has recorded one goal in seven appearances against Salt Lake...Nyassi notched the Revs' only goal against RSL in the 2010 campaign in the team's 2-1 loss at home on Oct. 2, 2010
• Chris Tierney is the only other active Revolution player to have scored a goal against Real Salt Lake, scoring a free-kick goal on July 4, 2011
• Two players - Clyde Simms and Andy Dorman - have recorded assists against RSL...Simms' assist came in 2009 when he was a member of D.C. United, while Dorman's assist came in 2006 in his first go-round with the Revs
• Matt Reis is 4-5-4 in his career against Real Salt Lake, posting a 1.69 goals against average and three shutouts
• Bobby Shuttleworth has a 0-1-0 career record against RSL, allowing conceded two goals in the 2-0 loss at Gillette Stadium on April 9, 2011
• Clyde Simms leads the current Revolution roster in appearances against RSL with 15 - all but one coming with D.C. United...last season was Simms' first appearance against RSL as a member of the Revs

BROADCAST INFORMATION

TV: CSN New England, 8 PM EST
RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub, 8 PM EST