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Orlando City SC interim head coach Bobby Murphy embarks on his first road trip with the Lions as City face New York Red Bulls away on Wednesday evening.

Travelling to Red Bull Arena for the second time already this season, this week’s game will be the final regular season meeting between the Eastern Conference sides in 2016.

Temporarily scraping back into the MLS Cup play-off qualification places following Friday’s dull 0-0 draw with Houston Dynamo at Camping World Stadium, Orlando City SC are now below the line once again following the conclusion of Gameweek 18’s fixtures.

Starting Gameweek 19 in eighth place (21 points) in the East, a string of consecutive positive results would work wonders with only NINE points separating the Lions from current table-toppers New York City FC at the summit.

That said, we’ll have to see much, much more from Orlando City SC at Red Bull Arena because in all honesty, City’s display against Houston Dynamo looked nervy and not at all convincing.

As the team continues to find their feet following Adrian Heath’s sudden exit last week, defeating New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena won’t be an easy task with Jesse Marsch’s side hitting their stride again after a slow start.

Looking back over the past THREE meetings between the two sides, we’ve seen an Orlando City SC victory, a New York Red Bulls victory and a draw so despite the sides’ contrasting fortunes at the minute, this one is usually evenly matched.

So let’s get straight into all the stats that matter heading into this next round of midweek Major League Soccer action!

2015/16 head-to-head stats

Orlando City SC have already faced New York Red Bulls TWICE so far this season and drawing 1-1 at Camping World Stadium back in May, we’ll be hoping it’s third time lucky.

Surrendering an early lead to Bradley-Wright Phillips in the 19th minute last time out, the Lions toiled to get themselves back in the game and fortunately enough, Kevin Molino managed to tie it up later on in the second-half on 67 minutes.

Orlando City SC 1 New York Red Bulls 1 – Highlights – May 6, 2016 (Credit: Tỷ Số Bóng Đá)

One of our SEVEN home draws in Major League Soccer so far this season, I’m sure most Lions fans would be content with a point on the road to Red Bulls this time however considering they beat us 3-2 earlier on this year in April.

Of all the teams in Major League Soccer, Orlando City SC are now much more familiar with facing New York Red Bulls compared to alternative outfits.

After all, the two sides have now met FOUR times in Major League Soccer with Jesse Marsch’s side shading the form guide in terms of two victories to the Lions’ single triumph.

New York Red Bulls look incredibly strong at home of late but let’s not forget that Orlando City SC won 2-5 in an incredible game at Red Bull Arena last September.

Already alluding to that fantastic 2-5 victory away at New York Red Bulls last season, Orlando City SC supporters will remember that game as the one in which Cyle Larin bagged a superb hat-trick.

With the Canadian international then going on to score within the opening three minutes at Red Bull Arena this season where Orlando City SC unfortunately ended up going down 3-2 in April, it’s safe to say Cyle Larin enjoys facing the New York teams.

New York Red Bulls form

Everybody was taken by surprise when New York Red Bulls started off the 2016 campaign in terrible fashion, losing SIX of their opening SEVEN Major League Soccer fixtures.

But now it’s all change for Jesse Marsch’s men.

Looking back on it, April’s 3-2 victory over Orlando City SC was the result which kick-started their season and now up in fourth place (24 points), the team have hit their stride again.

After all, Red Bulls have won their last FIVE home fixtures at Red Bull Arena so the Lions will have to bring their A-game when facing Aurélien Collin and co on Wednesday, that’s for sure!

If Orlando City SC supporters needed any more idea of just how tough a proposition Wednesday evening’s game against New York Red Bulls will be, Jesse Marsch’s side have kept a clean sheet in their last FOUR MLS fixtures at home.

• May 18th 2016 – New York Red Bulls 1 Chicago Fire 0
• May 28th 2016 – New York Red Bulls 3 Toronto FC 0
• June 19th 2016 – New York Red Bulls 2 Seattle Sounders 0
• July 10th 2016 – New York Red Bulls 0 Portland Timbers 0

Drawing 0-0 with 2015 MLS Cup Champions Portland Timbers last time out, it’s clearly apparent that the Red Bulls’ April signature of former Lions star Aurélien Collin has galvanised their back line.

Orlando City SC form

Thumped 4-0 in our last road game at FC Dallas following a 2-2 draw away at New York City FC back in May, we usually get plenty of goals when Orlando City SC go on their travels.

The worrying thing for Bobby Murphy and Lions supporters is the fact that the goals have dried up in our last two MLS fixtures however.

Scoreless against FC Dallas and most recently Houston Dynamo, we need to get Cyle Larin and Kevin Molino firing once again while channelling their good early season form.

Orlando City SC 0 Houston Dynamo 0 – Highlights – July 8, 2016 (Credit: Major League Soccer)

We’re sorry to be the bearer of bad news but the omens aren’t good for Orlando City SC heading into Wednesday’s fixture against New York Red Bulls.

Following our worst performance of the season against FC Dallas last time out where we lost 4-0, this result contributed to the fact that Orlando City SC have now conceded AT LEAST TWO GOALS in our last SIX away fixtures in MLS.

W’re thinking this one could be another long night for Joe Bendik but we’ll be willing all our boys on as ever!