CF Montreal v San Jose Earthquakes: Confidence the key in reaching playoffs, says Pearce

CF Montreal full-back Tom Pearce believes his new side have all the capabilities of reaching the playoffs, preaching confidence within the group as key to their recent success.

After back-to-back defeats to New England Revolution and FC Cincinnati, conceding nine goals in those games, this weekend’s hosts have gone three unbeaten in the MLS.

Montreal currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference, two points behind the Philadelphia Union in the final playoff place heading into the last four games of the regular season.

And Pearce, who joined the club from Wigan Athletic in July, has every confidence his team-mates can pull together to keep their campaign going.

“We’re in a good place after picking up seven points out of nine in one week. It’s a confidence booster and, not just the results, but the performances have been good,” Pearce said.

“After the two defeats we had, we got together as a group and just had an honest conversation about how we needed to get the confidence back to turn things around.

“I think since then we have done well in the games; training has been better, and we have that belief that if we keep playing our way, then fingers crossed, we will make the playoffs.”

On mouille le maillot

Putting in the work.#CFMTL pic.twitter.com/wc0GW702JD

— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) September 26, 2024

San Jose, meanwhile, were unable to build on their draw with the Seattle Sounders after going down 2-1 against fellow Western Conference strugglers St. Louis City last time out.

The Earthquakes have won just one of their last five MLS fixtures, leaving them at the foot of the standings and 13 points behind the rest of the pack.

But with four games of the season remaining, interim head coach Ian Russell is hoping his players can leave it all out on the pitch and end a disappointing season on a high.

“As a coach, you try and motivate them by getting them prepared first of all,” Russell said.

“Knowing that as a professional player, it is your job to play and to play hard every game, even though we are out of the playoffs.

“They are battling for contracts, and you would hope that would be enough motivation for them. There has been good energy, but we have started poorly in the last few matches.”

Arrived in Quebec #MTLvSJ | #Quakes74 pic.twitter.com/pGOdjccyC4

— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) September 27, 2024

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Montreal – Caden Clark

Clark has now scored two goals in his last three MLS matches after finding the back of the net just once in his previous 60 regular season appearances dating back to June 2021.

San Jose – Jeremy Ebobisse

Ebobisse scored his 33rd career regular season goal for San Jose in their defeat on Saturday.

Only Chris Wondolowski (167) and Ronald Cerritos (61) have scored more goals for the Earthquakes in the club’s MLS history.

MATCH PREDICTION: MONTREAL WIN

Montreal have won four of their last six home matches in all competitions (L2), including each of the last two. Montreal have suffered only two defeats in their last 12 matches at home dating back to late May (W6 D4).

This will be the Earthquakes’ first visit to Montreal since July 2018, when the hosts recorded a 2-0 victory. In fact, Montreal have won all five of their home matches against San Jose by an aggregate score of 11-2.

San Jose’s 2-1 defeat to St. Louis last time out was their 22nd loss of the year, equalling the second-most defeats in a single season in the post-shootout era (since 2000). Only D.C. United in 2013 (24 losses) have suffered more defeats in a single season in the post-shootout era.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Montreal – 52.3%

Draw – 24.4%

San Jose – 23.4%