TORONTO -- After refusing to allow fatigue to be an excuse for last Saturday's loss to Sporting Kansas City, Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney admitted Thursday that playing three games in eight days caught up to his group.
Toronto dropped a 3-1 decision at BMO Field to Kansas City last Saturday, ending its four-game home unbeaten streak. It was the Reds' second game four days after dispatching Orlando SC 4-1 earlier in the week.
Vanney hopes having a full week between games will lead to a better result when Toronto goes on the road to face the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
"I know it will be better this weekend," Vanney said. "I thought we had an off day (on Saturday) after having a good game (last) Wednesday. Some guys looked tired. We obviously added some new guys into the mix who have been away from the team so the dynamic is a little off, but I expect a much better performance and effort on the weekend."
TFC will welcome back midfielder Benoit Cheyrou, who is returning from a suspension, but will be missing defender Damien Perquis Saturday due to tightness in his quadriceps.
There is some good news on the injury front, however, as defenders Nick Hagglund and Josh Williams are available for selection.
Toronto could also have newly signed forward Herculez Gomez in the lineup. The 33-year-old American is still sorting out paperwork, but could be available for selection.
Gomez joins the Reds after spending the season with Puebla FC of Mexico's Liga MX. He is no stranger to MLS having spent time with the L.A. Galaxy, Colorado Rapids and D.C. United.
"I've been around plenty of different types of squads, different types of soccer, different brands, play different positions," he said. "It's about coming and learning from that experience. I'm excited to do what I can do and help the team in any way whether it's coming off the bench, playing outside mid, playing up top -- whatever it takes, whatever I can do to help the team, I'm going to do it."
Toronto will look to improve defensively as they head to New York for the first of two meetings this season with the Red Bulls (10-6-6). Toronto (9-9-4) has conceded 19 goals in their last seven games and are 2-3-2 over that stretch.
"Where we've had way too many difficulties is the mentality of our group on set pieces and understanding not just what our responsibilities are," said Vanney. "It's not just on the defenders. It's everybody who is on the field between set pieces being better with the ball and then also in some of these defensive moments when we have the ability to win the ball and secure the ball, we all have to be better."
Toronto has never won at Red Bull Arena. New York is 5-0-1 and own a 17-4 goal differential in the clubs' last six meetings in New York. TFC's lone win in New York came in 2008 when the Red Bulls played at Giants Stadium.
The Reds defeated the Red Bulls 2-0 last May in the only meeting at BMO Field, ending a 10-game winless streak against New York.
"They're very organized in their approach, they're a team that I wouldn't say they're all or nothing, but they're all or they're going to retreat heavily and you might catch them on the other side," said Vanney. "They're organized in that they quickly find their positions and they immediately start to press you as the ball is turned over or as you secure the ball and make that first pass.
"You have to be ready for it and you have to know where your outs are at."
