Chivas USA-Revolution Preview

Published Aug. 28, 2012 11:09 p.m. ET

foxsports

The New England Revolution were looking to the future when they traded Shalrie Joseph to Chivas USA earlier this month.

The Revolution are still looking for their first victory without their former captain, and they're on the verge of matching the longest winless stretch in franchise history.

Joseph makes his return to Foxborough on Wednesday night against a New England side that is trying to win for the first time in nine matches and snap a five-game skid versus Chivas.

Dealt to Chivas on Aug. 1 for allocation money, a 2013 second-round SuperDraft pick and 23-year-old midfielder Blair Gavin, Joseph left New England as the club's all-time leader in numerous categories, including starts (251), appearances (261) and minutes played (22,867). The midfielder helped the Revs reach the MLS Cup from 2005-07.

"It's not a decision we took lightly. It's not a decision we came to on a whim," Revolution coach Jay Heaps told the team's official website following the deal. "There was a lot of organizational thought process behind it. In the end, when you weigh the pros versus the cons and where this club needs to be and where we're going, tough decisions need to be made."

Since that swap, New England (6-14-5) has dropped four straight and is 0-7-1 in its past eight matches. The Revolution, who are 17 points behind D.C. for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, last went nine games without a win during a franchise high-tying 0-6-3 slump May 21-July 17, 2011.

They lost 4-3 at Columbus on Saturday after leading 2-0 in the 23rd minute.

"It was some of our best stuff, some of our worst stuff all kind of wrapped into a first half and to a game," Heaps said.

Returning home for three games in eight days is no guarantee that the Revolution can make up ground in the playoff race, as they've lost their last three at Gillette Stadium by 1-0 margins.

New England was outscored 11-0 in the previous four matchups before falling 3-2 in Chivas' last visit Aug. 6, 2011.

Chivas (7-10-6) would like to send the Revolution to their first four-game home losing streak since a five-game slide July 11-Sept. 4, 1999, but coach Robin Fraser's club - 10 points back of fifth-place Vancouver in the West - has issues to fix on both sides of the ball.

Chivas, the league's lowest-scoring team with 17 goals, has surrendered 11 during an 0-2-1 stretch following Saturday's 6-2 home loss to Seattle.

It was the most goals allowed in Chivas' history.

"It's good to just get on the road and get out there and just go play again," goalkeeper Dan Kennedy told MLS' official website.