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Revolution-Crew Preview

May 7, 2010 - 7:47 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

New England (2-4-1) at Columbus (2-0-2), 7:00 p.m. EDT

In their last match in Columbus, the New England Revolution needed to win or tie to advance to the postseason. Though the 2010 campaign is still young, leaving Crew Stadium with a point on Saturday would also be a major accomplishment.

New England looks to snap a four-match winless streak as it takes on a Columbus Crew team that's undefeated through four games for the second time in franchise history.

Needing a point in last season's regular-season finale to reach the playoffs for the eighth straight year, the Revolution posted a 1-0 victory in Columbus on Jeff Larentowicz's free kick in the 79th minute.

With just one point since a 4-1 victory at Toronto FC on April 10, New England (2-4-1) hasn't performed like a playoff-caliber team this season.

Ejections haven't helped the struggling Revolution. After Kheli Dube and Joseph Niouky were sent off in last Saturday's 1-all draw with FC Dallas, Marko Perovic was red-carded in the 29th minute of Wednesday's 4-0 home loss to Chivas USA.

"We can't keep playing men down," coach Steve Nicol told the Revolution's official website. "Not only did we play for another hour a man down tonight, but having played two men down on Saturday - 10 men for (40 minutes) and nine men for (20 minutes) - you just can't do it. It's impossible."

With Perovic serving his one-game suspension, Dube and Niouky will return as New England tries to hand Columbus (2-0-2) its first loss of the season.

The Crew, the two-time reigning Supporters' Shield winners, remained undefeated with last Saturday's 1-all draw in Seattle. Steven Lenhart scored the equalizer in extra time of the first half off a cross from Danny O'Rourke.

"Given the fact (the Sounders) played amazing in the first half and we played really bad then turned it around at halftime and played solid in the second and had the momentum, especially in front of an atmosphere like this, it was a great point," midfielder Brian Carroll told the Crew's official website.

Columbus, which was also undefeated through four games with a 1-0-3 start to 2007, is expecting a physical battle in the Revolution's only visit to Crew Stadium this season.

"(The Revolution) usually play a physical game here so I don't expect them to do anything less than that, especially coming off a 4-0 loss at home," coach Robert Warzycha said.

Columbus is 13-6-6 all-time at home against New England, but it won't have O'Rourke for this meeting. The veteran midfielder is suspended after picking up two yellow cards Saturday.

The Revolution host the Crew on Sept. 25.