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Redemption will be in the minds of Orlando City SC players against Houston Dynamo on Friday night after a humiliating 4-0 loss on the road to FC Dallas led to Wednesday’s sacking of Adrian Heath.

Brushed aside with ease in the heat of Toyota Stadium, Frisco last time out, the Lions are currently seventh in the MLS Eastern Conference with 20 points from 16 games played.

Bobby Murphy and Anthony Pulis will now take interim charge of a side that has conceded 29 goals for the campaign which is the THIRD worst record in the East behind both New York City FC and New England Revolution.

Everybody connected with Orlando City SC knows that defensive strengthening is a must during the transfer window and this week the Lions were linked with the signature of Uruguayan defender José Aja.

While transfers will sort themselves out, Orlando City SC will be eager to get back to winning ways at Camping World Stadium while doing their best to avoid a mid-season slump that cost them so dear last season.

That said, a lack of strength in depth is no longer a valid argument for City this time with both Bobby Murphy and Anthony Pulis needing to make some tough calls over the Lions’ starting line-up when Wade Barrett’s Dynamo show up in O-town on Friday.

Coming off the back of a gruelling period having played extra-time against Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the U.S. Open Cup, not to mention travelling the 2168 mile round-trip to and from FC Dallas, perhaps we could witness some changes against Houston Dynamo.

So before the next Major League Soccer gameday comes around, strap yourself in and check out all the pre-game stats that matter right here!

2015 head-to-head stats

Considering Orlando City SC have only contested one full season in Major League Soccer so far, the Lions have only faced Houston Dynamo ONCE before in the league considering they are a Western Conference franchise.

With Dynamo having done the honours by facing City at BBVA Compass Stadium in 2015, it’s Camping World Stadium that hosts 2016’s fixture.

Aside from March 2015’s first ever league meeting between the sides, the duo did face off a month earlier in the 2015 Carolina Challenge Cup which forged part of both clubs’ pre-season schedule.

Unfortunately for Orlando City SC, Dynamo ran out 3-0 winners on that occasion.

Yes, Houston Dynamo beat Orlando City SC 3-0 in the 2015 Carolina Challenge Cup but when it really mattered in Major League Soccer, the Lions came out on top!

Travelling to Texas in their first away game of 2015 following the New York City FC home opener, Adrian Heath‘s men won 0-1 courtesy of a Tyler Deric own goal registered late on in the 74th minute.

Houston Dynamo 0 Orlando City SC 1 – Highlights – March 13, 2015 (Credit: Major League Soccer)

And those precious three points at BBVA Compass Stadium took on extra significance given the fact this marked Orlando City SC‘s FIRST EVER victory within Major League Soccer!

Boosting Adrian Heath‘s men to four points after the first two games played in 2015, Orlando City SC managed to sample all three outcomes in their opening three MLS games by then going on to lose 0-1 to Vancouver Whitecaps in Gameweek 3.

Orlando City SC form

Perhaps Philadelphia Union came the closest to ending Orlando City SC‘s proud home record at Camping World Stadium four games ago but nevertheless, it’s one that remains intact.

Having drawn 2-2 with San Jose Earthquakes and dramatically defeated Toronto FC 3-2 since then, Orlando City SC are now undefeated in their last FIFTEEN home fixtures stretching back to a 0-2 loss to New York Red Bulls on July 19th 2015, almost a YEAR ago now!

Orlando City SC continued to underline their status as the most exciting team to watch in all of Major League Soccer when Kaká scored a dramatic 110st minute spot kick to down Toronto FC last time out at home.

That said, there was nothing exciting about watching the Lions go down 4-0 away at FC Dallas on Monday evening.

Nevertheless, this result still contributed to the fact that there have now been OVER 2.5 GOALS scored in City’s last SIX MLS fixtures.

FC Dallas 4 Orlando City SC 0 – Highlights – July 4, 2016 (Credit: FC Dallas)

Monday night’s 4-0 loss away to FC Dallas was extremely rare in regards to the fact it was a game in which Orlando City SC failed to score.

Occurring for the first time this season, we are used to the Lions being free scorers in the league with City having scored AT LEAST TWO GOALS in EIGHT of their last TEN Major League Soccer fixtures.

Houston Dynamo form

Make no mistake; Orlando City SC have to get back to winning ways as soon as possible to reassure ourselves that we are indeed MLS Cup play-off material.

The excellent news is that Houston Dynamo are notoriously poor travellers with Wade Barrett’s men having failed to win their last SEVENTEEN away fixtures in Major League Soccer.

It’s been pretty much a YEAR in which Dynamo haven’t tasted the winning feeling on the road with the Texan sides’ last away victory coming against San Jose Earthquakes when winning 0-2 in California back on July 10th, 2015!

Despite their poor away form, Houston Dynamo do head to Central Florida on the back of a 1-0 victory over Philadelphia Union last time out and what a goal it was from Cristian Maidana!

Cristian Maidana’s match winning free-kick against Philadelphia Union – July 2, 2016 (Credit: Houston Dynamo)