Bradley Carnell has warned his St. Louis City side that they will not be comfortable despite their four-game unbeaten streak.
Carnell’s men last lost in March after picking up one win and three draws to leave St. Louis ninth in the Western Conference, just three points behind sixth-placed Austin FC.
As his team prepares to host the Chicago Fire this weekend, Carnell has warned his players not to become complacent.
“We have so many positive things to say, especially with our three goals conceded in four games, and there are so many good moments,” Carnell said.
“But I don’t want to feel comfortable with that either. I don’t want to be used to getting draws. I don’t want to go overboard on getting ties.”
Carnell’s side will look to extend their unbeaten streak against a four-game winless Fire team that currently sits 13th in the East after a poor start.
Chicago head coach Frank Klopas hopes his team doesn’t lose faith, telling reporters: “Our focus is to continue to be positive with the group.
“It is a process where we evaluate and see how we can improve as a team. Then when we analyze the games, we look at specific things we did well and our mistakes to improve.”
“It’s a long season. I feel like the team played well, but we have to find a way to get points.”
Can it be Saturday already?#AllForCITY X @BJC_HealthCare pic.twitter.com/JkcqEeNR6B
– St. Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) May 8, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
St. Louis City – Joao Klauss
No St. Louis player has scored more MLS goals so far this season than Klauss, scoring three goals and adding an assist. He will likely take the lead on Saturday and hope to score the goals that turn draws into wins.
Chicago Fire – Brian Gutierrez
Despite his team’s overall poor start, 20-year-old midfielder Gutierrez has performed well and leads his team with three MLS goals so far this season, while also recording an assist. He will build on that and try to turn his team’s fortunes around from this Saturday.
MATCH PREDICTION – ST. LOUIS WINS
St. Louis has kept a clean sheet in three of its last four games, including a goalless draw against the Houston Dynamo in its last outing. St. Louis had kept just two clean sheets in its last 23 contests since July of last year.
The Fire, meanwhile, have failed to score in four straight games. This is the fifth time since the start of the 2021 season that Chicago has gone four or more consecutive league games without scoring.
Six of St. Louis City’s last eight games have ended in draws, but home advantage should be enough to prevail against a struggling Chicago team on Saturday.
OPTA PROBABILITY OF WINNING
St Louis: 55.5%
Chicago: 19%
Draw: 25.5%