New York City FC vow to improve focus with eye on fixing problem of conceding early goals

PURCHASE, N.Y. – New York City FC have conceded 16 goals on the season and half have come in the opening 30 minutes of matches.

It’s an obvious problem, but one whose root that head coach Jason Kreis has been unable to point to.

“It’s different situations every single time. It seems to me like every single time its not necessarily a tactical issue, but it’s a lack of focus by one player,” Kreis said. “Almost every single time I think you could point to one player and say that was a pretty big mistake. It seems to be changing every game. It’s not the same player.”

It may not be the same player or situation, but the end result has been the same for the expansion team that will look to snap a 10-match winless streak against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday at Yankee Stadium (7 pm ET; MLS LIVE).

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“We’re putting ourselves behind the eight ball lately and end up chasing the game a bit,” defender Chris Wingert said. “We need to have a little more urgency from the get-go and try to score the first goal so we can put the other team under it. We just need to be sharper in all areas, really.”

NYCFC have given up two or more goals in each of the last four games and have fallen behind inside the opening half hour six times this season.

“I think it’s just executing now,” Wingert said. “We’ve talked plenty about some different reasons we think we’ve let up some early goals and goals in general. We’ll continue to go over what those reasons are, but I think a lot of it comes down to just being focused in the match and executing.”

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The injury bug certainly isn’t making that any easier. NYCFC will be without Josh Williams (adductor), Ned Grabavoy (pelvis) and Javier Calle (quad) for Saturday’s clash against Houston.

But despite all their struggles – resulting in the league’s worst record – Kreis said he was encouraged by the energy level during a spirited training session Friday.

“It was an upbeat session. Guys were pretty vocal with each other and you always like to hear that,” Kreis said. “When you’re going through times like this you need people to step up and take responsibility.”