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Revs hope to jumpstart season against Union

Jul 15, 2011 - 9:57 PM Foxborough, MA (Sports Network) - The New England Revolution were Manchester United's equals for 45 minutes earlier this week (at least on the scoreboard), but the second half painted a more accurate picture of Steve Nicol's club.

After a scoreless first half, the English Premier League champions scored four times for a 4-1 win that left New England on the wrong side of another result, even if this one was just a friendly.

Now, New England (3-8-7) has to turn its focus back to Major League Soccer and Sunday's match against the Philadelphia Union (7-4-7), who enter the weekend tied atop the Eastern Conference with Red Bull New York

In MLS this season, New England has accumulated just 16 points and sits at the bottom of the East. To put its struggles in more prospective, New England is two points off the bottom of the overall table.

Although New England's defense has played well, allowing 24 goals this season, it has scored a league-low 16 times in 18 matches - or less than one goal per game.

At least New England scored against United, as Kenny Mansally found the net in the early stages of the second half. Although it was still a defeat, it could help New England build for the rest of the season.

"There're always things that can improve; you're playing against one of the best teams in the world so it's just good to be out there and kind of challenge yourself against that kind of competition," New England's Benny Feilhaber said.

If there's one positive for coach Nicol, it's that New England has been a much better side at home this season. In nine home games, the Revolution have 13 of their 16 points.

With three wins and three draws at Gillette Stadium, New England has just six fewer points than Philadelphia has accumulated in its nine home games. But the Union have nine points on the road, compared to just three for the Revolution.

Since New England does not have a victory on the road, earning its three points on draws, it needs to start earning the full three points at home if it plans to climb the standings and compete for a playoff spot.

Philadelphia was among the worst teams in MLS as an expansion team last season but has turned into one of the best teams in the East under coach Peter Nowak, who quickly molded the team into a winner in less than two seasons.

But despite being tied atop the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia is also just fifth in the overall standings behind four Western Conference teams - the Los Angeles Galaxy, Seattle Sounders FC, FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake.

For the Union to separate themselves from the Red Bulls and move closer to the Galaxy, who lead MLS with 39 points - albeit with three more games played than Philadelphia - they must return from New England with three points.