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Revs aim to put first blemish on Crew's home record

Fri 23rd, May 2008

Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - The Columbus Crew put their unbeaten home record on the line when they host the New England Revolution in a Major League Soccer fixture at Crew Stadium on Saturday.

Columbus, which is currently tops in the league with 19 points after eight fixtures, is 4-0 at Crew Stadium this season.

"Obviously, Columbus is on a roll and they're doing well," New England defender Michael Parkhurst said. "We haven't played them yet this season so it will be a good match-up. They go forward well and they defend as a unit. It will be a good game."

The Revs are no slouches on the road, however, with a 3-1-1 record away from the friendly confines of Gillette Stadium, and will look to put the first blemish on the Columbus home record.

Both Eastern Conference clubs are coming off shutout results this past weekend in MLS play, with the Revs earning a 2-0 victory over the expansion San Jose Earthquakes at home and the Crew battling to a scoreless draw on the road at Toronto FC.

"It's just one of those games right, Toronto's playing well, and they're playing well at home," Columbus coach Sigi Schmid said after his team's most recent match. "You know for us it's been a while since we've played on turf and that always changes the game a little bit. It was a little windy and it was one of those games where defensively I think we didn't get all that much on track. A little bit was because they played well and it was important for us to play to zero in the back and see if we could maybe grab a goal on the road and I thought we came close a couple of times."

Many around the league have been waiting for the Crew to cool off after a red hot start to the season, but they seem to be finding ways to get results week in and week out in the early going.

"... I think we're just committed to whatever we have to do to win the game," Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer said.

The Revs are starting to stabilize the ship after a crazy first few weeks of the season in which injuries forced a number of players who normally wouldn't see the field into action. The returns of team captain Steve Ralston and defender Chris Albright, among others, has made a difference in recent fixtures.

One injured veteran who probably won't play is forward Taylor Twellman, who has appeared in just one game this season with ankle and knee injuries. He is listed as doubtful on the team's official injury report.

If he can't go, rookie Keli Dube, who scored in the win over San Jose last week, should see action up top alongside teenager Kenny Mansally.

"Its hard to just come in and start. (The coaches) gave me games to get adjusted to MLS. You can't just come in and play; you have to get used to the MLS style of play, so I'm just happy to be given the opportunity. It's always nice to start a match, but for me it's my first year so I was just happy with where I was, getting minutes to play, and now a chance to start. It's a good thing for me. The Revs are a good team."

Where the players come to play and STAY.