The New York Red Bulls have won a season-high four straight as they head to a place that has been a house of horrors for over a decade for them.
The Red Bulls are winless in their last 19 games at Gillette Stadium, and could be without Thierry Henry in Saturday night's matchup with the low-scoring New England Revolution.
New York (6-4-2) has recovered from a poor start, with superstars Henry and Tim Cahill scoring three goals apiece during this run that began with a 4-1 home victory over New England (2-4-3) on April 20.
Henry, however, has never played at Gillette Stadium since he dislikes playing on artificial turf. The 35-year-old forward also played nearly the entire match last Saturday at Columbus and again Wednesday at home against Montreal, so he may need to be rested.
Henry, who has scored in all three previous meetings with the Revolution, said he would discuss his availability with coach Mike Petke.
"I've got to speak with Mike," Henry told the Red Bulls' official website. "I've never played there, so we'll see how it is."
New York has been outscored 43-20 during a 0-13-6 slide at New England since a 2-0 victory June 29, 2002.
The Red Bulls will also likely be without forward Peguy Luyindula, who hurt his left hamstring in Wednesday's 2-1 victory over the Impact.
If Henry and Luyindula are out, New York's remaining healthy strikers are Fabian Espindola, Andre Akpan and 17-year-old Amando Moreno. Espindola has three goals while the other two have logged a combined 11 minutes.
The 33-year-old Cahill could shift from midfield to forward, but he's also played 90 minutes twice in the last week and ranks sixth in MLS among outfield players with 916 minutes.
Henry's effect on New York was evident Wednesday as he scored both goals, including one on a spectacular bicycle kick.
"That's why he is on the field,'' Petke said. "It just takes a moment of magic from him, and he had two tonight.''
The Revolution have been strong defensively, although half of the goals they have conceded came in the first meeting with the Red Bulls. It's the other end that's the problem with five goals from nine games, making them the league's second-lowest scoring team.
New England fell 2-1 at home to Real Salt Lake on Wednesday despite taking the lead in the 51st minute on Ryan Guy's first 2013 goal. Saer Sene had his penalty kick in stoppage time saved after coach Jay Heaps had already substituted the club's usual penalty kick specialist, Lee Nguyen.
Now the Revolution must bounce back as they try to avenge their worst loss of the season.
"There are going to be some tired legs," Guy said. "I don't know if there were any injuries, we might've been lucky tonight but, more than anything it's another chance for us to get three points which we desperately need now."
The Revolution won't have former Red Bulls striker Juan Agudelo available. Agudelo, acquired Tuesday from Chivas USA, is still recovering from a hamstring injury.
