Portland Timbers head coach Phil Neville insisted his whole team "need to deliver" in the final six matches of their playoff push.

The Timbers are currently seventh in the Western Conference after Austin FC's win against Sporting Kansas City last weekend, with Neville's side three points ahead of the Colorado Rapids in eighth.

Their next match is against the New York Red Bulls, one of three home games in their last six regular-season fixtures.

The Red Bulls will be desperate for a win of their own as they are currently two points behind ninth-place Chicago Fire in the Eastern Conference.

Neville urged his players to come together in their final run of games, and asked the fans to do the same.

"It's the final push now, we all need to deliver," said Neville.

"We are excited about the last six games. They are all finals, they are all big games. I think we can't afford to drop many points.

"The Austin victory at the weekend means that we are in a position where we are having to win three, maybe four games and that excites me.

"I think this team is capable [of doing that]. I trust my team. I trust what they are doing. I trust their qualities, and we have got to take one game at a time.

"I think at this stage of the season you have got to show confidence and trust in each other, and that is what I have in this group.

"Province Park is a special place. I think it is going to be an incredible atmosphere. Every game we are going to need the fans as our 12th person, our extra bit of push.

"We are going to need it to be hostile, we are going to need it to be special. We need their support and their energy, and we want to give them something to cheer about."

The Red Bulls are winless in their last two matches without scoring, while they have not won on the road since a 2-0 win against D.C. United on May 25.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Portland Timbers – Kristoffer Verde

Norwegian forward Kristoffer Verde has made a positive impact following his move from Olympiacos.

In his second match with the Timbers, Velde recorded five shots and three chances created against Minnesota United. Only Antony vs FC Cincinnati on August 16 (nine) was involved in more shots in a match this season for Portland.

New York Red Bulls – Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is NYRB's top scorer this season with 15 goals, while he has also provided three assists in MLS.

Despite scoring three goals and registering one assist in three games following their Leagues Cup campaign, Choupo-Moting has failed to directly contribute to a goal in his last two matches.

MATCH PREDICTION – PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN

The Red Bulls have lost four straight away matches in all competitions and are winless in seven straight on the road dating back to the beginning of June (drawn two, lost five). New York have not had a longer road losing streak in all competitions since a string of six straight defeats spanning the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

However, Portland are winless in three straight regular-season home matches, including a 3-2 defeat to FC Cincinnati in their last league match at Providence Park. The Timbers have not dropped points in consecutive home league matches since September 2019, with the second of those defeats coming against the Red Bulls.

This will be the Red Bulls' first trip to Portland since a 2-0 win in September 2019. The only meeting in the seven years since that match was a 1-1 draw in May 2022.

In their last six league matches, Portland have won one, drawn three and lost two. New York, meanwhile, have won two, drawn one and lost three in their last six.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Portland Timbers – 42.8%

Draw – 26.7%

New York Red Bulls – 30.5%