NYCFC have been solid when they’ve played sides higher up in the table, but have dropped numerous points against teams at the other end.
New York City’s hopes of finishing first in the Eastern Conference suffered another blow as they claimed nothing more than a point from their 2-2 draw with New England at Yankee Stadium.
NYC now lie eight points behind Eastern Conference table toppers Toronto, and are in danger of dropping out of the playoff positions due to Atlanta’s match in hand.
The draw at Yankee Stadium was a blow to their ambitions, but the nature of such results have now become a theme. NYC FC have failed to collect enough points against teams at the bottom end of the tables. The draw with New England, despite the positions of both sides prior to kickoff, shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise as it is simply the latest example of such a failure.
Salt Lake, DC United, and Montreal have all prevented Patrick Vieira’s men from earning all three points. None of these teams sit above tenth place at the moment.
What must really irk supporters is that the Yankee Stadium-based club have the quality to win such fixtures and have reflected their ability in matches with teams higher up in the table.
NYC ended both Orlando’s and Columbus’s unbeaten home record and scored three in each clash in the process. They have also managed to earn a victory over San Jose, who sit fourth in the Western Conference and a point at third-placed FC Dallas.
While such results must brighten the mood among supporters and the dressing room, it surely upsets them that they are unable to replicate an equal level of performance against sides in the lower end of the table.
The boys in blue were back in the BX last night…
Watch the full Behind the Scenes, presented by @ALCATEL1TOUCH: https://t.co/6BmiJt57Eb pic.twitter.com/PULzu0ByCJ
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) June 1, 2017
Check out the top 5 #NYCFC plays from the month of May 2017… pic.twitter.com/v81WusHXcq
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) June 1, 2017
As a result of NYC’s inability to earn maximum points from fixtures with sides at the wrong end of the table, their campaign to top the Eastern Conference nears its conclusion, while they could find themselves outside the top six once them and Atlanta have played just as many matches as each other.
The talent of this team is not a concern for Patrick Vieira. The concern is that the quality of this team has yet to present itself when it should be most clear.
