Takeaways and Player Grades: Riverhounds can’t find another gear at Detroit but build unbeaten streak to five

There was plenty of hype.

There was plenty of intensity and physical play.

But there were no goals.

A sellout crowd of 7,235 fans packed into Keyworth Stadium for a contest to be played before a national television audience on ESPN 2, but once again Riverhounds and Detroit City played to a scoreless draw in a battle where little separated the two teams.

These two clubs are now separated by a mere point in the standings at the halfway point of the season.

And yet, Riverhounds Head Coach Bob Lilley reluctantly accepted the point on the road.

“We battled well,” Lilley said.

“It’s not the worst game we’ve played in Detroit. We do tend to draw here, and then win at home, except for the [2023] playoff game. We win the season series, but it’s frustrating that we didn’t get the win tonight, especially with the chance Robbie (Mertz) had late.”

Lineup, Tactics and Squad Rotation

The Hounds made one adjustment from the previous match, as Bradley Sample got the call to start in the midfield, switching out with Charles Ahl, who had started the previous two matches.

This pushed Danny Griffin back up to the top attacking line with Robbie Mertz and Augi Williams, while Sample partnered along with Jackson Walti in the central, deeper midfield positions — as the Hounds played mostly in a 3-4-2-1 (or 3-4-3) formation.

Lilley would only use three subs, bringing on Ahl and Bertin Jacquesson who came on (in the 67th minute) to relieve Sample and Williams, then the big fella, Brigham Larsen came on for Robbie Mertz very late (89th minute)

Stats Back Up How Evenly Contested This Match Played Out

This match reflected how close these teams have been in their series that dates back to 2022.

Five of the 10 all-time meetings between the teams have been draws, and none of the 10 has had more than two combined goals scored.

While the Hounds conceded a little bit more possession in this road match (54/46), taking a look at many key statistical categories — there was little difference.

In fact, the down the line, it is crazy how even it was.

• Fouls Conceded:  18-15 (Pittsburgh)
• Crosses:  24-23 (Pittsburgh)
• Corners 3-2 (DCFC)
• Interceptions 13-13
• Duels Success Rate (DCFC 50.4 / PIT 49.6)
• Long Passes (DCFC 81, PIT 73)
• Passing Accuracy in Opponents’ Half (DCFC 53.5 / PIT 59.3)
• Shots: 10-10 (3-2 on frame DCFC)
• Shots Inside the Box:  7-7

The biggest discrepancies may have come in defending stats — where the Hounds were busier and still more efficient with edge in tackles (17-11) and clearances (47-28).

If the Hounds were more proficient in generating chances in the final third and getting more runners into the box, they could swing things a bit more in their favor.

“The first half, we really didn’t get in behind them, even once we were getting on the ball more,” Lilley explained.

“Second half, we at least got in behind, but we’re still not making clear-cut chances. Every time they got in behind us, they got it into the box. We’re getting into good spaces, but there’s a lack of concrete ideas in the final third.”

Playing on the road, Pittsburgh were mostly solid defending in the final third, with one or two exceptions, as attacking midfielder Ates Diouf found a few moments to generate shots on frame and test Hounds keeper, Eric Dick.

Eric Dick Picks Up Another Clean Sheet

One of the best veteran pick-ups the Hounds have made in recent years came with the signing of Eric Dick before last season.   With the success that the goalkeeper had last season and being that they held his contract option, it was a no-brainer that they brought him back to the fold this season.

And once again, Dick has been steady at the wheel, providing solid goalkeeping for a team that has played in a lot of tight, low scoring contests.

In this match, Dick made three saves, for his eighth clean sheet overall, with all three shots coming from fairly close range (all in the box).

Dick’s biggest save came in the first half when Diouf sent a smashing one-time volley — getting on the end of a cross from Darren Smith — as the keeper was quick to react, however, and the Hounds’ goalie not only got a glove to the well-hit shot, but he also corralled the rebound to end the threat.

Hounds Looked Better at End of Both Halves

If these two teams were to meet in a playoff match, the odds are that it goes to extra time or penalty kicks would probably be pretty high.

But a positive sign for the Hounds, was they appeared to be the stronger team toward the end of both halves.

The Hounds’ best chance came in the 76th minute after a slip in the Detroit midfield allowed Danny Griffin to pounce on a loose ball. Moving forward with numbers, Griffin found Robbie Mertz on the left after Bertin Jacquesson cleared space with his central run. Mertz took a touch on his right foot, 12 yards from goal, but a last-ditch tackle by Detroit’s Michael Bryant poked the ball away as Mertz tried to shoot.

“The first 15 minutes we struggled, but then I thought we worked our way into the match and carried the play until halftime,” Lilley added.

“The second half was more of the same, we got better as the half went along. … The biggest thing is that we’re just not winning enough second balls. We’re not keeping them under pressure by winning the ball right back when we’ve got them pinned back.”

Hounds Player Grades

Starting XI

1	Eric Dick	GK — 7.5 – in Highmark Stadium era — not sure if I would want any other keeper in goal on the road for a big match than ED.
3	Perrin Barnes	DF – 5.5 — quieter match — only won 2/9 duels, committed two fouls, 40 touches, no successful crosses (0/3)
13	Luke Biasi	DF -6.5  -was busy on wing — with 78 touches, nine recoveries and drew two fouls — but no accurate crosses (0/3) and made 3/6 successful long passes
23	Guillherme Vacter	DF – 7 — seven passes into final third, while making six clearances and winning 8/11 duels
5	Sean Suber	DF – 8 – created one chance, made five passes into final third, had team/game high 16 (!!) clearances (nine headed) and won 3/5 duels
16	Beto Ydrach	DF – 7.5 – center back won 11 of 16 duels, including 6 of 7 aerial duels, both of which led the team for wins. He also added seven clearances and had five touches in the Detroit box, a product of Ydrach’s strong match in the air on both attacking and defensive set pieces.
14	Robbie Mertz	MF – 6.5 –  team and game high four tackles won in a physical match, created two chances but maybe has another goal if he quickly turns on pass from Griffin?
42	Jackson Walti	MF – 7.5 — most accurate passer in match to play more than 45 minutes (84%), created one chance, five passes into final third, won 5/10 duels
15	Bradley Sample	MF – 5.5 — just 32 touches and 61% passing accuracy in 66 minutes.
2	Danny Griffin (C)	MF – 6 —  seven touches in opposition box, two shots and was fouled twice
9	Augi Williams 12‎‘‎	FW – 5.5 — 25 touches, with three in opponents’ box, missed on match’s only close range ‘Big Chance’ — but missed the target

Bench

31	Randolph	DNP
6	Broughton   ‎	DNP
8	Etou‎	DNP
17	Larsen 89′ ‎	N/R — second straight late match appearance for the 6’5″ forward from Norway.
18	Garcia‎	N/R
10	Jacquesson 67‎‘	MF/F – 6 – if anything, Bertin will draw defenders
12	Ahl 67‎‘‎ ‎	5 – 23 minutes, six touches, won 1/3 duels, two passes into final third, one foul
	‎