Reds look to stop the Revolution in its tracks

Toronto FC begins stretch of three games in six days on Sunday vs. New England

Toronto FC can take a welcome step away from the pack with a victory over closest competitors New England Revolution Sunday evening at BMO Field.

It would be a six-point victory for the Reds — who sit one place behind the Revolution in the Eastern Conference with a game in hand — and could help propel them into the driver’s seat as they enter the final six weeks of the regular season.

TFC coach Greg Vanney has long talked about his side not only securing a place above the red line but challenging for a top three or four position. Sunday is Toronto’s chance to get that ball rolling.

“It’s about us performing well, building momentum, continuing to grow . . . into this final stretch and take as many points as we can,” he said Friday. “We all know in this league it’s the team who’s playing the best down the stretch who tends to go the farthest come playoff time.”

Sunday marks the third meeting between the two squads this season. They drew 1-1 in May, but the result that remains top of mind for Toronto is a 3-1 loss on Aug. 1, in which striker Jozy Altidore was sent off for violent conduct.

Altidore missed last Saturday’s match because of international duty but will be back in the lineup Sunday. His availability, as well as the return of Justin Morrow following the birth of his first child, bolsters a squad that was so dilapidated during their 2-1 loss to Seattle Sounders last weekend they only had four players on the bench instead of the normal seven.

Question marks remain about Sebastian Giovinco, who hasn’t played since Aug. 29 because of an adductor muscle injury, though he took part in light training on Friday.

Others still on the injury list include defenders Ahmed Kantari, Damien Perquis and Nick Hagglund, as well as midfielders Jackson, Benoit Cheyrou and Daniel Lovitz.

Vanney was non-committal Friday about who, if anyone, would return Sunday. One certain no-go is Collen Warner, who is serving the second game of a two-match suspension.

With three games against the Revolution, New York City FC and Colorado Rapids in a six-day period starting Sunday, Vanney won’t risk any- one unnecessarily this weekend.

“All three games have the same amount of points on the line as the one this weekend,” he said.

Still, Sunday’s match is the one that sticks out as Toronto’s toughest opponent in the near future.

But captain Michael Bradley plans to treat the well-known rivals much like any other side.

“As with any team in this league, if you don’t treat them with the respect they deserve and take the game seriously then you’re in for a tough day.”

The Revolution come into the game having won their last four matches and are unbeaten in five.

With their confidence up, Vanney expects a hardworking display from the New Englanders. They’ll press high and work to create turnovers in the home side’s half, attacking on the counter. Toronto’s defence and goalkeeper Chris Konopka, at times leaky this season, will have their work cut out for them against the likes of creative midfielder Jermaine Jones’s delivery.

Toronto will have to be sharp and capitalize on even the slightest opportunities if they want to end the 90 minutes a cut above.

The match should be “pretty tightly contested,” Vanney predicted Friday.

“It comes down to making the couple or few big plays that are going to be out there for us over the course of the match.”