Red Bulls-Dynamo Preview

After beginning the season unbeaten in seven matches, the New York Red Bulls are finding points harder to come by.

Despite earning only one in their last three matches, they head to Houston on Friday night with a calm demeanor and plenty of history on their side against the Dynamo.

New York (4-3-5) fell 2-1 in Seattle on Sunday for its second straight loss, and it came in particularly disappointing fashion after taking a lead on Lloyd Sam's 36th-minute goal. The Sounders evened things in the 69th and got the winner in stoppage time.

The club is winless in three straight and has one victory in its last seven. The Red Bulls have scored once in three matches after going their previous 19 - including the postseason - without being shut out, but first-year coach Jesse Marsch isn't yet seeing anything to be concerned about.

"If we were playing in games where we were outmatched, where we were outplayed, then there would be more cause for concern about where we're at with different things," coach Jesse Marsch told the club's official website.

"The early success meant that we all felt strong about what we were doing and how we were doing it, and now we're in a moment where we're struggling for results, but I don't think it's changed any of the belief of how we're doing things, who we are, how we talk, how we train, how we play."

Dating to August 2008, New York holds a 10-2-8 advantage against the Dynamo with a 3-1-5 record in Houston. In the regular season, the Red Bulls are 6-0-1 with an 18-3 scoring edge dating to August 2012.

Last season, the Red Bulls went 2-0-1 against the Dynamo with a 7-2 aggregate. Bradley Wright-Phillips singlehandedly more than doubled Houston's scoring with five goals, giving him seven in as many career matches in the series.

The 2014 Golden Boot winner has gone three matches without scoring for the second time this season and last reached four with a five-game drought from March 15-April 16, 2014.

"When we get our chances we're going have to put them away," Wright-Phillips said. "I feel that's been a major thing in our losses. We're not getting the goals when we should, even on top in the games, and it's something we have to look at."

Houston (4-5-5) is returning home after a loss and a draw on the road. Saturday's 1-1 tie at New York City FC came after Will Bruin gave the Dynamo a 16th-minute lead, and NYCFC scored from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time.

"This one's tough. I think nine out of 10 times we should win this game," goalkeeper Tyler Deric told the club's official website. "We're disappointed to come away with just a point considering as many chances as we had. I thought we deserved more than one point."

Bruin has four goals in four matches after managing one in his first nine, but he's never scored in 12 matches against the Red Bulls.

Houston has limited five straight opponents to a goal after conceding eight in the two previous matches, and its 15 goals scored in nine matches are one behind D.C. and New England for the top total in the league since April 11.

That could continue with New York missing defenders Matt Miazga (U-20 international duty) and Damian Perrinelle (yellow-card accumulation).