Columbus Crew v Charlotte FC: Smith reminding visitors 'how good we could be'

Dean Smith is intent on reminding Charlotte FC "how good we could be" as the visitors look to back up an impressive win when they head to Columbus Crew in MLS.

Smith's side humbled Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati with a 3-1 victory last time out, with Ashley Westwood assisting all three goals – a club record.

That eye-catching result marked a perfect response after back-to-back defeats against Inter Miami and Houston Dynamo, leaving Charlotte sixth in the East standings.

The next challenge for visiting head coach Smith is to keep his side honest, and more importantly, consistent.

"I keep talking in our dressing room about how good we could be. And we've got to be consistent," Smith said.

"We've just lost the last two games. I thought we played really well against Inter Miami. Our first half against Houston, we dropped our standards and got beat because of that.

"So we wanted to make sure that our standards were back there. And I thought it was a good follow-up performance to the Inter Miami game."

Westwood was the hero, picking apart the 10-man Cincinnati with ease en route to a headline result against the division leaders.

"We never know when we're beaten, and that's a good thing to have," said former Burnley midfielder Westwood. "We get knocked down, we keep coming back up.

"And it's a real togetherness. All the lads are running for each other. We know how organised we are. Everyone knows what they're doing."

The Crew are third in the same standings after smashing Los Angeles FC 5-1 in their last match – a result that delighted boss Wilfried Nancy.

"Really happy because the task that we had was really difficult, knowing the context and the situations," Nancy said.

"My players found a way to be ourselves and to play the way we wanted to play and to play really good sequences, but also to be disgusting to play against.

"This is something that I like. I'm happy because the level was good. I'm happy."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez

Cucho Hernandez was on target in the hammering of LAFC last time out, and will continue leading the line and aiming to extend his remarkable run in front of goal.

The Crew star has scored eight goals in his last seven appearances, with his overall tally for the season at 12 goals in 16 MLS matches.

Charlotte FC – Ashley Westwood

Westwood has become an integral part of Smith's side, leading the way from midfield.

The former Premier League midfielder collected two first-half assists in Cincinnati before adding another after the break, taking his season tally to five in 22 MLS games.

MATCH PREDICTION – COLUMBUS CREW WIN

The Crew are the overwhelming favourites for this one, signified by their high likelihood of victory in Opta's pre-match predictions. That owes to their strong recent form.

Columbus have won their last five matches by a combined 20-2 scoreline, since losing to Inter Miami towards the end of last month.

The hosts will take confidence in knowing they have avoided defeat in their last two home meetings with Charlotte, drawing 1-1 in 2022 before a 4-2 victory last season.

Charlotte do, however, have the chance to inflict an unlikely double on Columbus after triumphing 2-0 in March's reverse fixture.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Columbus Crew win – 61.9%

Draw – 20.2%

Charlotte FC win – 18%