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Wizards-Revolution Preview

Jul 10, 2009 - 4:51 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Kansas City (5-6-4) at New England (4-5-4), 4:00 p.m. EDT

The New England Revolution are excited to be at home for the first time in more than a month, but they haven't enjoyed a home-field advantage against the Kansas City Wizards.

Losers of two straight overall and winless the last four times they've hosted the Wizards, the Revolution look to end both sets of struggles Saturday.

New England (4-5-4) lost 1-0 at Los Angeles last Saturday, ending a stretch of five games in 14 days after reaching the SuperLiga semifinals and losing in the U.S. Open Cup.

After a well-deserved week off, the Revolution will play at Gillette Stadium for the first time since June 7, when they defeated New York 4-0. They are 3-1-1 at Gillette Stadium this season, compared with a 1-4-3 mark on the road in league play.

"It's huge. To get settled down again is very important," Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. "To get to sleep in your own bed and to train properly during the week and cover some things is very important. As far as Kansas City is concerned, we believe we can get three points."

New England, however, has struggled at home versus Kansas City (5-6-4), failing to earn a win in the last four matchups (0-3-1). The Revolution haven't beaten the Wizards in Foxborough since a 2-0 victory Aug. 2, 2007.

New England also struggled at Kansas City on June 13, losing 3-1. That contest was the Wizards' only win over their last five games (1-2-2).

Kansas City is currently playing short-handed and it showed last Saturday in a 1-0 loss to Houston - the club's second shutout loss in its last three matches.

Wizards captain Jimmy Conrad and midfielder Davy Arnaud are with the U.S. national team for the Gold Cup, while fellow midfielder Roger Espinoza is playing with Honduras.

"It is what every coach has to deal with in MLS," Wizards coach Curt Onalfo told the team's official Web site. "It makes things more challenging. For us, it's not an excuse. We put in a good effort and fell a little bit short."

New England is without defender Jay Heaps, also a U.S. national team call-up. The Revolution have also been missing Shalrie Joseph due to damaged knee cartilage and Steve Ralston because of a strained right hamstring.

Joseph will be out another game but Ralston, who has 12 career assists against Kansas City, could return Saturday.

Lithuanian forward Edgaras Jankauskas made his MLS debut for the Revolution in the 61st minute against the Galaxy, replacing Kheli Dube. Jankauskas, 34, was Lithuania's soccer player of the year five times.

Rookie defender Kevin Alston, meanwhile, returned to New England's starting lineup after missing three straight contests due to tightness in his right hamstring.