{"id":27273,"date":"2014-08-16T23:59:06","date_gmt":"2014-08-17T03:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/?p=27273"},"modified":"2014-08-17T00:03:47","modified_gmt":"2014-08-17T04:03:47","slug":"davies-strikes-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/?p=27273","title":{"rendered":"Davies Strikes Again"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"(Photo

(Photo credit: Chris Aduama\/aduamaphotography.com)<\/p><\/div>\n

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“We\u00a0have to start playing like Charlie [Davies] has, with a chip on his shoulder all around the pitch.” – Darrius Barnes<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. \u2013 Charlie Davies continued his hot streak for the New England Revolution on Saturday night scoring his second goal in as many games. Unfortunately for New England, the goal wasn\u2019t enough to get the full three points as for the second time in a row they blew a halftime lead, settling for a 1-1 draw with the Portland Timbers after falling 2-1 to the New York Red Bulls two weeks ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Charlie\u2019s done an excellent job,\u201d said head coach Jay Heaps. \u201cI thought tonight again he was spritely, he was moving well off the ball, holding it up and scored a great goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Davies, it was his first home goal and gave the striker two goals and an assist in the last three games after registering no points in his first eight games for the Revolution, albeit mostly as a late substitute.<\/p>\n

“It’s always great to score, Diego [Fagundez] played a great ball and I just have to try to make the most of my opportunities as a striker and obviously you take so much joy and pride in scoring goals,\u201d said Davies. \u201cIt’s just unfortunate that we didn’t get the result we were hoping for.”<\/p>\n

After a poor pass from Portland ‘keeper Donovan Ricketts under pressure from Teal Bunbury, the ball fell to Kelyn Rowe who ran forward and played Fagundez. Fagundez then played a ball into the box for Davies, who timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap, run into the six yard box and then one-time a left footed shot off the far post and in to give the Revolution the lead in the 27th<\/sup> minute.<\/p>\n

It was Davies\u2019 only shot of the game, but he made the most of it and his teammates took notice.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Davies is] playing really well right now,\u201d said Rowe. \u201cHe\u2019s holding the ball up, he\u2019s winning the balls, he\u2019s working really hard and it\u2019s all paying off because of those two goals. He\u2019s in the right spot at the right times and he\u2019s putting them away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rowe wasn\u2019t the only player who noted Davies\u2019 important contributions to the team. Defender Darrius Barnes also recognized what Davies has added.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s just brought that edge,\u201d said Barnes. \u201cHe has a chip on his shoulder. He\u2019s been itching to get his chance and he\u2019s finally gotten it and he\u2019s done well with it. He\u2019s come in, got two goals in two games and we\u2019ve just got to do a little bit better as a team to get the result as he\u2019s putting them in the net.\u201d<\/p>\n

But after the Revolution conceded the equalizer in the 65th<\/sup> minute, Davies didn\u2019t get much of a chance to score again. The Revolution striker was subbed out by Heaps in the 75th<\/sup> minute for rookie Patrick Mullins. It was Davies\u2019 longest appearance thus far for New England.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Jay has been extremely smart,\u201d said Davies. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to just throw me in there and play 90 minutes after 90 minutes and end up getting injured, so I think it\u2019s been great. I definitely feel like I\u2019ve built up my match fitness and I feel I can go 90, so it\u2019s obviously a work in progress with me, but I think I\u2019ve definitely gotten over the hump of feeling like \u2018oh, I might be on the verge of another little tweak or little injury\u2019, so I\u2019m starting to feel fit and hopefully I can continue with this goal scoring form, but like I said you just need to win and hopefully we can take that next step against Chivas [USA].\u201d<\/p>\n

Though Heaps wants to be careful with Davies, he also wanted a different look for late in the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cDavies is still coming along,\u201d said Heaps. \u201cThat was the longest he went. We had him at probably 55 [minutes] and then 65 in New York and then 75 tonight. But I also think that [it was] the combination of [that and wanting what Mullins brings]. I like to get Mullins in there, he\u2019s a little bit different dynamic to defend and I actually think Mullins went in there and had some chances. I think he did a good job battling and created a little bit from turnovers there. We\u2019ve got to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n

And to be better, the team might look to Davies for some inspiration.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just have to pick up that sense of urgency,\u201d said Barnes. \u201cIt\u2019s coming down here to the last stretch. We have to know that losses and ties are not going to be good enough. We\u2019ve got to start getting three points. We have to start playing like Charlie has, with a chip on his shoulder all around the pitch. Just get better all across. Take a look in the mirror, come in to training sessions and get better day-by-day.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For second straight match, Charlie Davies gives the Revolution an early lead, only for team to blow it.
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