Eric Ramsay insisted he would not overreact or overthink Minnesota United's 3-1 defeat to the Vancouver Whitecaps, a result that brought up just their second loss of the season. 

Ramsay watched on as the Whitecaps scored three times in 15 second-half minutes to take the game away from the Loons, with Wil Trapp netting a late consolation. 

Minnesota make the trip to the Q2 Stadium this weekend to face Austin FC, a team one place ahead of them in third in the Western Conference standings. 

And Ramsay is hoping that his squad's latest setback will be a reminder not only to his players, but to himself of staying sharp to aid their push for the playoffs.

"I don't want to overreact, and I don't want to cause a catastrophe over one performance," Ramsay said. "We looked at the game as the end of a 10-game block. 

"Had someone said at the start of the term we would lose two of 10 games and would have 16 points and the base of a competitive team, I would be happy with where we were. 

"I just think about finishing in the way that we did against Vancouver. It was really disappointing, but I don't think it is indicative of anything wider. 

"But it will hopefully sharpen me, the staff and the players. I always take this stance in these situations where a poor performance has to mean something forward. 

"It must mean that we right this wrong, and we have to do that over the course of the two coming games because we have two really difficult matches."

Austin, meanwhile, have endured a stop-start campaign under new head coach Nico Estevez, with the club picking up just four points from their last four MLS games. 

Estevez joined from rivals Dallas FC in October and is yet to stamp his authority at Austin, with the team struggling in particular in the forward areas. 

They have scored just seven goals from their first 10 games of the season, a joint-league low alongside St. Louis City, something Estevez acknowledged had to improve. 

"One day, we'll score the goals. This is the only thing I can tell. I mean, I don't have the crystal ball," Estevez said following their 2-0 defeat to the Houston Dynamo.

"I hope that this changes. Sometimes there are moments that teams have [when] they don't score goals, but I'm very optimistic that we will score goals."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Austin FC – Diego Rubio

Rubio has scored six career regular-season goals against Minnesota, equalling his most against any opponent (also six against the Houston Dynamo). 

He is one of five players (Dejan Joveljic, Kei Kamara, Johnny Russell, Gyasi Zardes) to score six times against the Loons. No player has done so more often.

Minnesota United – Wil Trapp

Trapp has scored each of Minnesota's last two MLS goals. This is his 13th MLS season and the first time he's scored multiple goals in a single campaign.

That is the most seasons before a player's first multi-goal season, surpassing Eriq Zavaleta, who recorded multiple goals for the first time in his 11th term in the competition. 

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

None of the nine previous meetings between Austin and Minnesota have been drawn, with this weekend's hosts holding the advantage with five wins to four for the Loons. The four meetings at Q2 Stadium have been split, with each side winning twice.

Austin has won three of their five home matches this season (D1 L1), including going unbeaten in three straight (W2 D1). They have allowed just two goals at home this term. Only CF Montreal (one) has let in fewer on home soil.

Minnesota, meanwhile, have lost only one of their last 11 regular-season road games dating back to last July (W6 D4). The Loons have kept clean sheets in five of those 11 games.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Austin FC – 39.5%

Draw – 26.6%

Minnesota United – 33.9%