Improved Crew eye benchmark

COLUMBUS -- On the list of ways to improve the team and make the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2004, two items were crossed off after the last match and another big one looms for the Columbus Crew on Saturday when they play host to Real Salt Lake.

A 2-1 win against FC Dallas gave the first-place Crew their 10th win of the season and sixth in Crew Stadium, surpassing both totals of last season.

"We want to keep winning at home. We have one more win than we had last year (at home). I don't think that's enough," midfielder Robbie Rogers said of the 6-2-2 record.

With an overall record of 10-6-4, the Crew have 10 games to equal last season's unflattering total of 37 points in 30 games. Don't think for a moment that's not a big deal.

"Of course, we have those (numbers) in the back of our heads," midfielder Brad Evans said. "The most important thing is winning. We'll take it one half at a time, score the goals we need to score and we'll do the job. We're getting closer to our point total with 10 games left so our goal is to eclipse that. The wins will come; we'll ride this wave and see what happens."

Coach Sigi Schmid broached the subject during his postgame press conference on Saturday and judging from comments from the players it was a hot topic in the locker room prior to the match.

"We have 34 points now. If we win the next game it's very important, we have the same points as last season with nine games left," defender Gino Padula.

Schmid said the Crew's place in the Eastern Conference standings is not relevant at the moment. With New England hosting D.C on Wednesday and Chicago at Los Angeles the following night, the Crew could enter their next match in third place.

"I'm not focused on first, second or third. I'm just focused on the points. What we talked about before the game is that by the end of next Saturday (vs. RSL) we want to have 37 points. We want to have the same amount of points in 30 games last year then we can start adding some things on that," Schmid said. "That's our goal. If that puts us in first place, great. That's a great place to be and a reflection of what this team has done and what has worked for us. We want to get more points and more points."

The Crew understand they are getting closer and closer to having enough points to qualify for the postseason.

"I think everybody who breaks 40 should get in," Rogers said. "The East is very strong and everyone's starting to make the final push. If you get 41, 42 you should be all right but I don't want to say that and jinx it."

Said Padula: "If we get to maybe, 43 points in the next in four games we're in the playoffs."

"I want that little asterisk next to the Columbus that says 'clinched a playoff spot,'" Schmid said. "Whether that happens when we're in first place, second place or third place doesn't matter to me as long as that asterisk gets next to our name as soon as possible.

"There are only four teams that have a winning record, maybe five. ... To be one of the few teams to have a winning record, you have to remember, MLS is set up for everybody to go .500. That's the real prognosis of the league. They'd like to see everybody .500. When you're above .500 that means you're doing something right."

Such as rallying again for a good result. In the previous two home matches they fell behind 2-0 but forged draws. FC Dallas went up on the 100th career goal by former Crew striker Jeff Cunningham in the 35th minute before Guillermo Barros Schelotto set up goals by midfielder Brian Carroll and Evans in the 62nd and 65th minutes for the win, despite being outplayed in the opening half.

"The difference between this year and last year is they can have a bad moment like that -- as I said to Robert (assistant coach Warzycha) when we were sitting there, if we get in (at halftime) only down 1-0 that's good," said Schmid. "We didn't get annihilated the first half even though we played poorly and we had the character to come back and get three points.

"Every time you play the game you've got to figure out a way to win. You have to figure out how to win when you're not playing well. You've got to figure out how to win when you're playing well and when you're dominating games. At Houston two weeks ago I thought we were the better team and got nothing. At Colorado we probably got outplayed a bit and got something."