In Saturday’s game at Gillette Stadium (4:00 p.m. ET), Jozy Altidore is expected to make his first start of the MLS season, with coach Greg Vanney switching back to the 4-3-3 formation that was the go-to in 2015. With Altidore up top, Sebastian Giovinco is likely to start wide left. Daniel Lovitz or Mo Babouli will start wide right.
Tsubasa Endoh sat out last game with a leg contusion and is questionable for Saturday.
Benoit Cheyrou is unavailable after his sending off for two yellow cards in the loss to Colorado Rapids. TFC opted not to appeal the decision.
The Professional Referee Organization responded this week to the officiating controversy following a slew of red cards so far this season.
“If players continue making such challenges, referees will continue making such decisions,” PRO general manager Peter Walton said.
Toronto are tied for fifth best defence in the league, with only four goals conceded to the Revolution’s seven. However, The Reds will have their work cut out on Saturday. TFC’s new-looking defensive unit will face Uruguayan Diego Fagundez, who has been involved in four of the Revolution’s five goals this season, with two goals and two assists.
New England Coach Jay Heaps has a squad with a clean bill of health and has Gershon Koffie and Je-Vaughn Watson both available for selection after the duo were suspended for last weekend’s controversial 1-0 win against the New York Red Bulls.
In the last meeting between the sides, New England came out 3-1 winners at BMO Field on September 13th last year as TFC were stumbling into the playoffs. The game at Gillette Stadium in August saw the same score line and the Revolution will be looking to make it eight games undefeated against Toronto.
Projected Line-ups
Toronto: C.Irwin, D.Moor, D.Perquis, S.Beitashour, J.Morrow, M.Delgado, M.Bradley, W.Johnson, T.Endoh, S.Giovinco, J.Altidore
New England Revolution: B.Shuttleworth, C.Tierney, J.Goncalves, A.Farrell, Je-Vaughn Watson, S.Caldwell, G.Koffie, D.Fagundez, L.Nguyen, T.Bunbury, J.Agudelo
Referee: Edvin Jurisevic
Broadcast: TSN2
Photo Credit: David Silverman (New England's Lee Nguyen challenges for the ball as he's surrounded by three TFC players in the Revolution's 3-1 win at Gillette Stadium in September, 2015)