Returning home and players back a welcome feeling

Following a 10-day road trip during which the Dynamo lost three straight games and slipped to the edge of playoff contention, the team returns to BBVA Stadium looking to recapture its early season success.

Across all competitions, Houston has won just three of its last 10 matches. Its last league win (against D.C. United) came in its secondto-last game at BBVA Stadium (the most recent being a 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City). Despite those recent struggles, the Dynamo (7-6-3, 24 points) are still unbeaten at home this MLS season (6-0-3).

“Obviously, it’s good to be back,” midfielder Juan David Cabezas said. “It was a really tough week for us. We haven’t won in the last four games … even when we gave our best, it wasn’t enough. This is a great chance we have to continue fighting at home.”

The Dynamo’s road woes (1-6-0) aren’t novel. But recently, they were exacerbated by the absence of regular starters for reasons ranging from Gold Cup participation to immigration documentation.

Forwards Mauro Manotas and Alberth Elis and defender Adam Lundkvist are rested and have returned. Forward Memo Rodriguez remains out with a left hamstring injury and defender DaMarcus Beasley is questionable with a left knee injury.

“It was almost a month that we were all spread out and we couldn’t have the whole roster, even at practice,” coach Wilmer Cabrera said. “We have to balance the loads and how we practice with them. We cannot overload the ones that have

played a lot and we cannot also be light with the ones who aren’t playing and practicing.”

“I don’t know if any team losing seven starters is going to be at the same level. That would be fantastic for us, but it’s not the reality.”

Cabrera has had about half of his regular starters available in the past three games, during which his lineups had featured lesser known commodities like Ronaldo Pena, Marlon Hairston and, recently, Chris Duvall. When the Dynamo hosts the New York Red Bulls (8-6-3, 27 points) on Wednesday, those players should to return to the bench.

But even without so much of the Dynamo’s usual talent, goalkeeper Joe Willis never lost confidence in his teammates.

“I feel confident going into the game because we’re at home for sure,” he said. “I think having more options as a team is nice also. (But) I wouldn’t say I lacked any confidence in the three previous games. We have a strong squad and the results didn’t go our way, but I never doubted the guys who played or had any lack of confidence in anyone who played.

“Now we’re back home, we have a full squad, everyone’s had a little time to get settled in so we know this is a huge game for us and we’re raring to go.”