St. Louis City SC's interim head coach, David Critchley, wants his team to play with bravery and confidence when they face Real Salt Lake away from home this weekend. 

St. Louis have struggled on the road in the MLS this season, failing to pick up an away victory since a 3-0 win over the LA Galaxy in March, which was their third game. 

Indeed, from the 10 games they have played away for the entire season, St. Louis have picked up just five points, which has contributed to their struggles this campaign. 

They find themselves 14th in the Western Conference, though Critchley acknowledged the difficulties of playing on the road in the United States. 

"I have heard it often in this league, and we should not have two different philosophies or play styles or ways to approach a game, like, we should look like this at home, or we should like this away," Critchley said. 

"We should look the same home and away. It's trying to help these lads that when we travel, the first priority isn't trying to get a draw or trying and be reserved. It should be to go on the road to have the bravery and the confidence to try and get three points. 

"In this country it is difficult. The travel is hard. You are always on a flight, and you sometimes have to deal with different time zones.

"It's different. But, at the same time, what I am trying to control is how we travel, as in the mindset that we should be going to play to try and win. We know the situation we are in as a club. We know we need to try and get three points this weekend."

Salt Lake, meanwhile, were forced to share the spoils in their last league game with Sporting Kansas City, as Johnny Russell's opener was cancelled out by Erik Thommy. 

But Pablo Mastroeni's side have also struggled of late, picking up one win in their last nine games (D4 L4), leaving them 13th in the Western Conference standings. 

In their draw with Kansas, they ended the game with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.28 from their 20 shots to their opponents 0.7 from their 13 attempts. 

While the Salt Lake boss was left to rue those missed opportunities, he was able to take the positives that those chances were being created for his front line. 

"Obviously, both teams are fighting for points to try and get above the playoff line," Mastroeni said. It was almost a game of two halves. We did very well to control the game in the first half, but in the second they got into the game. 

"They were winning the battle of territory but towards the end, we created some big chances. I think from the way it plays out, the most important thing for me is that we are creating the opportunities. 

"We had four big chances, 20-something shots on goal. It's about finishing those opportunities moving forward. I think we were hard done by not to capitalise on at least one of those opportunities."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Real Salt Lake – Johnny Russell

Russell has scored in consecutive games, his first time he has found the net in back-to-back games since doing so in June 2024 with Kansas City.

He joins Diego Luna (three-game streak between April and May) as the only RSL players to score in two or more consecutive matches this season.

St. Louis City – Roman Burki

Burki has recorded at least five saves in a match for the 26th time since joining St. Louis ahead of the 2023 season with his performance last time out.

Only Austin FC's Brad Stuver has more matches (31) during that span with at least five saves.

MATCH PREDICTION: REAL SALT LAKE WIN

Real Salt Lake have earned three of their five wins at home this season. All three of those victories have featured a goal before the 25th minute in a 2-0 result.

St. Louis were shut out for the ninth time this season on June 28 in Houston – tied for the most games shutout this campaign with D.C. United. They have failed to score in a league-high six games on the road, including three of their last four matches away from home.

St. Louis did, however, win the first-ever meeting with Real Salt Lake, earning a 4-0 win in March 2023. But they have scored just three total goals across the last three meetings. RSL have since fired in seven goals in total over the last three matches in the fixture.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Real Salt Lake – 55.4%

Draw – 23%

St. Louis City – 21.6%