Preview: St Louis City vs Minnesota United - prediction, team news, lineups

St Louis City and Minnesota United will both be keen to return to winning ways when they face off at CITYPARK on Sunday in the latest round of MLS fixtures.

Having beaten the hosts twice this season already across league and cup duty, the visitors have the opportunity to make it a hat-trick of wins and complete a domestic double for the second campaign running.

Match preview

After going unbeaten across their opening four matches of the season, while also picking up eight points from a possible 12, St Louis City would have fancied themselves to make a playoff push this time around off the back of a 12th-place finish last time out.

However, David Critchley's men have had the worst form of any MLS side over the next 19 matches, during which they have only managed two wins and 10 points in total.

Since keeping four clean sheets from as many matches earlier on this term, the Missouri-based outfit have been all over the place at the back and will head into Sunday's game in search of a first shutout in 14 matches.

St Louis City's ongoing rough patch cost Olof Mellberg his job back in May, but interim manager Critchley has hardly had any luck turning his side's fortunes around.

With time running out for Sunday's hosts to save whatever is left of their postseason aspirations, it remains to be seen if they will elect to pull the plug on Critchley.

Meanwhile, St Louis City will need to keep their focus over the course of the 90 minutes to stand a chance this weekend, having conceded 14 of their 38 goals in the final 15 minutes.

Going unbeaten in eight of their first nine matches this term, Minnesota United also made a bright start to proceedings and have maintained it with just 10 league outings left.

Eric Ramsay's men currently sit third in the Western Conference, just two points shy of leaders San Diego FC despite dropping points in disappointing fashion last time out.

A 77th-minute opener from Anthony Markanich against the Portland Timbers looked set to earn the Loons all three points before Omir Fernandez restored parity in the 92nd minute.

Like St Louis City, Minnesota have also been guilty of being caught cold late on in games, with 10 of their 27 goals conceded so far coming in the closing 15 minutes.

However, Sunday's hosts may not have to worry about the final knockings of their upcoming encounter should they keep up their habit of blowing teams away just before the break, as 12 of their 40 goals scored so far have come from the 30th minute up until half time.

With Leagues Cup action on the agenda for both of Sunday's opponents after this weekend's encounter, securing all three points would be a welcome boost before heading out for continental duty.

St Louis City MLS form:

Minnesota United MLS form:

Minnesota United form (all competitions):

Team News

Chris Durkin and Joakim Nilsson are both ruled out for St Louis City through knee injury, while Rasmus Alm is currently nursing a hip problem.

Henry Kessler is also expected to miss out for the home side as he continues to nurse a hamstring problem that has ruled him out since mid-June.

Argentine duo Joaquin Pereyra and Nicolas Romero are disciplinary absentees for Minnesota United here, as they will both serve a one-game ban for accumulation of yellow cards.

Long-term absentee Hassani Dotson is still a long way off from returning from a knee problem and is joined on the visitors' treatment table by Ho-yeon Jung.

Defender Anthony Markanich has now directly contributed to seven goals in 21 matches this season, making him one to keep an eye on.

St Louis City possible starting lineup:

Burki; Totland, Baumgartl, Yaro, Orozco; Wallem, Teuchert, Ostrak; Hartel, Klauss, Becher

Minnesota United possible starting lineup:

St Clair; Rosales, Boxall, Diaz, Duggan, Gressel; Hlongwane, Lod, Harvey, Markanich; Oluwaseyi