14 points from 14 games wouldn't normally be seen as a bad start to the season.
But given the reputation that the Riverhounds have built up over the years, and especially after their Players' Shield in 2023, only winning three games to start off the season is certainly not the standard that people would have come to expect from Bob Lilley and the team.
However, any suggestion that this bad start to the season could be seen as the beginning of the end for the 58-year-old needs to be quickly brushed away. Speaking exclusively to DK Pittsburgh Sports last week, team president Jeff Garner acknowledged that the start of the season could have gone better, but threw both his and the club's full support behind the head coach:
"Obviously, we still have some room for improvement. I think we consistently have seen opportunities to get better, but it's the inconsistency that has been an issue. Bob certainly has all our trust in the world. And I think we're moving in a good direction... we're really looking forward to Wednesday against Louisville, and that'll be a real test to see where we are at home at Highmark Stadium"
With a record of 2-2-2 at home compared to 1-4-3 on the road, the Hounds' record is only marginally better. But with the 'Summer Of Soccer' on the horizon, a stretch that will see the Riverhounds play all four of their July games at Highmark Stadium, if ever there was a time for the team to get back on track and show what they can do, now is the time.
Before that though, they face off against a Louisville City FC team whose 10-2-2 record has them sitting as the best team across the whole USL Championship and the game at Highmark will stand as a good test to see how the players can bounce back after their latest poor showing on the road against Hartford Athletic.
Whilst a result might be tricky to come by, if the performance can demonstrate that the players still have the fight, capability and talent to turn things around, then that could be seen as some small form of progress. Play like they did on Saturday though, and it has the potential to be a bloodbath.
