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COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Amid a four-game winless streak in which they’ve been outscored 13-0 by their opponents, the Colorado Rapids are looking to end their current run of form as they prepare for Saturday’s match against Columbus Crew SC. Needless to say, the team is desperate for goals.

“At the moment, we don’t have a striker that’s out and out performing,” Rapids head coach Anthony Hudson told Pro Soccer USA. “It’s just the final third where we need a little bit more of a cutting edge, a little more quality.”

Following their latest defeat, a 3-0 loss to Atlanta United at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Rapids head coach Anthony Hudson made it clear that his squad is in need of more attacking players.

Colorado hasn’t been able to find the back of the net since Aug. 14th in a 2-2 draw with the L.A. Galaxy, but Hudson believes his team is “playing the right way.” To his point, while Colorado hasn’t been scoring, the Rapids have been holding a slight edge in possession (52 percent) and nearly even on chances created (39-40) in their recent games, with the exception of a 6-0 thrashing by RSL on Aug. 25th, where Colorado was down to nine men before halftime.

“Even against Atlanta, we created enough chances,” Hudson explained. “It’s an area of our game and our squad that we know we have to address.”

During the summer transfer window, Colorado brought in MLS journeyman Giles Barnes in a move which the front office believed would help make up for the departure of Dominique Badji. Barnes suffered an ankle injury during his Rapids debut, however, and hasn’t been able to make the kind of impact both he and the club were hoping for.

“It’s unfortunate because he injured himself in the first game and was ill last week, so he hasn’t really gotten going yet,” Hudson said of the Jamaican international. “He’s been great for the group and a good player to have in the dressing room. He’s going to be keen now to get a run of games and some performances under his belt.”

It’s been a tough start to his Colorado Rapids career, but Barnes believes in what the team is building and is hopeful that with continued persistence, the goals will come.

“Sometimes it’s a bit of lady luck, sometimes it’s that luck that brings you confidence in front of goal. It takes a shot to go off someone’s elbow or someone’s shin and then the floodgates open,” he said. “I think that’s where we’re at. We’re keeping the ball, we’re distributing well and we’re working hard as a team. We’re headed in the right direction.”

Barnes isn’t the only one that has been hobbled with injury. Forwards Jack McBean (toe), Sam Nicholson (back) and Niki Jackson (ankle) have all dealt with their various injuries over the past few weeks. With each player in and out of the lineup, it’s been detrimental to creating chemistry in the final third.

“If you were to go over all of our best performances, there’s been a certain lineup and with that lineup has come a certain type of performance,” said Hudson. “When we don’t have those players in, our performance changes. I was always very mindful that we were only an injury away from being very different.”

During a season which was meant to reboot the Colorado Rapids into contention, the club’s fan base has become restless. Hudson acknowledges the disappointment in the team’s 2018 results, and took personal responsibility when asked about the criticisms both he and the club has faced.

“To be honest, I think we deserve all of the criticism we get,” he said. “I take full responsibility.”

“I take it on the chin. It’s been tough for the fans, because at the beginning of the season there was a lot of excitement. I feel for the fans, because it’s been frustrating. It’s been a horrible time, very difficult and very challenging. It’s been horrible for me personally, the staff and the players. The players have never stopped fighting, they’ve never stopped working. We all believe in the way we’re trying to play.”

Rapids Injury Report:

Out

Jack McBean – foot/toe

Sam Nicholson – back

Questionable

Niki Jackson – ankle

Edgar Castillo – illness

Probable

Jack Price – groin

Dillon Serna – groin

The post In dire need of scoring, Colorado Rapids look ahead to weekend bout with Columbus appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.