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TORONTO - Toronto FCs playoff push took a body blow Wednesday night. But star midfielder Michael Bradley is not ready to pronounce the patient dead yet.Still, a 1-0 loss Wednesday to the Houston Dynamo, a team that has been road kill all season, wasted three valuable points.Bottom line, Toronto no longer has games in hand and sits three points out of a playoff place with three games to play. It needs to keep its pedal to the metal and hope somebody above it slows down.Coach Greg Vanney said sixth-place Toronto is still in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt, just with zero margin for error. And Bradley, who had a fine night, left no doubt that his team wont exit without a fight. Theres three games left, theres nine points on the table, said Bradley, levelling a death stare at a nearby reporter that would have done Godzilla proud. If we take nine points, Im pretty sure were going to be right there. I think taking seven points gives you a really good chance. So until somebody tells me that mathematically were no longer in it, every single guy in this locker-room is still going to be believing.The loss was frustrating and painful, given Torontos ample chances.Houston was reduced to 10 men in the 55th minute when defender A.J. Cochran was sent off for dragging Luke Moore to the ground. Jermain Defoe, in his first start since Aug. 23, was foiled on the ensuing penalty by red-hot Houston goalie Tyler Deric.I believe if that goes in, then maybe its a different game, said a disappointed Defoe. Wed probably had enough time to get the second goal. But even after that the (Houston) keeper made some good saves.It was just one of those games.While Houston had only lost one of its last six games, it was missing three starters to international duty and had leading scorer Will Bruin on the bench after sitting out more than a month with a foot injury.Toronto outshot Houston 26-9, but led only 8-6 in shots on target. Defoe (seven shots, two on target), Moore (5-2) and Brazilian winger Jackson (4-2) all had their chances.I asked the guys to lay it out there, to play it was like their last game and I think we did, said Vanney. At the end of the day, the game comes down to executing in the box. We just didnt do that today.Giles Barnes first-half goal, coupled with Derics heroics, gave Houston a nervy win.It will keep us in the playoff race, Barnes said of the victory. I thought the team was fantastic. A massive three points on the road. It was a great team performance with a man down as well.The dropped three points were crucial for Toronto (11-13-7), which could have moved into fifth place in the East with the win. Instead Houston (11-14-6) joined Philadelphia within one point of Toronto.All three are looking up at the Columbus Crew, who hold down the last playoff spot in the East by three points over Toronto.The Houston game represented Torontos game in hand on the five teams ahead of it in the Eastern Conference. Toronto has three games left — away to the New York Red Bulls, home to the Montreal Impact and away to the New England Revolution.My message to the guys was what we lost today was our margin of error for the rest of the season, said Vanney, whose record at the helm dropped to 2-4-1.We now have to go out and we have to win. Thats it. ... For me, weve got to be almost perfect from here on out. That means if we play like tonight and finish our chances, maybe thats enough. But weve got to be more clinical when we get our opportunities.Toronto, which entered the league in 2007, has never qualified for the post-season. But TFC has already set single-season franchise records for wins and points this season.The game, TFCs penultimate at home in the regular season, was overshadowed by the Maple Leafs home opener at the nearby Air Canada Centre. There were plenty of empty seats in the announced crowd of 18,269 on a chilly 10-degree night at BMO Field.That snapped a streak of 15 straight sellouts (22,591) this season.It was a rare road win for Houston, which came into the game with a 2-11-2 record away from home this season — only Montreal is worse at 0-12-3. But Barnes, an English forward, has been a thorn in Torontos side all season with two goals and two assists in three games against TFC.He gave Houston the lead in the 35th minute, taking a well-weighted ball from Kofi Sakodie down the flank and beating rookie defender Nick Hagglund, who went down with what looked like a well-timed nudge from the Houston forward, before beating goalie Joe Bendik between the legs for his ninth of the season.Should have been a foul in my eyes, said Vanney.Hagglund and fellow centre back Steve Caldwell agreed.The game turned controversial early in the second half, with a penalty no-call, followed by a missed penalty and red card — all at the Houston end.Deric — in just his 11th MLS game, subbing for the injured Tally Hall — had a night to remember as Houston recorded only its second ever win (2-3-4) in Toronto.He was spectacular, said Vanney.Tyler is a monster, added Barnes. Its unfortunate the way he got his chance but he is like that every day at training. So I dont expect anything less from him, any game, any chance he has to play. He is incredible, he is a great keeper.Defoe, who saw 30 minutes action as a substitute last week in his return from a groin injury, was lively but his range-finder was just off.We all know he hasnt played a ton of games over the last two months, said Vanney. And I think thats unfortunately what got him a little bit in this match, just sharpness really in and around the goal. Brazilian forward Gilberto, who was out last week with a hamstring issue, did not dress for Toronto after a late fitness test.Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter Custom Golden State Warriors Jerseys . 9 Baylor Bears just needed some time to get on track in their first game after the Christmas break. Wholesale Custom Jerseys . Speaking on Leafs Lunch with Bryan Hayes and Jamie McLennan on Thursday, Bernier said it was "very hard" at times being entrenched behind Jonathan Quick and is now excited at the prospect of getting an opportunity to compete with Reimer for the top spot with the Leafs. https://www.cheapcustomjerseysonline.com...saints-jerseys/. - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to meet with Richie Incognito to determine if one of the central figures in the Miami Dolphins bullying scandal can help their struggling offensive line. Custom New Orleans Pelicans Jerseys . The Flames announced Monday that Treliving, a former assistant general manager with the Coyotes, will take over the vacant GM spot in Calgary. "Im ready for this,"Treliving said. Custom Colorado Avalanche Jerseys . Theres little time for rest, too. The Flyers and Rangers play again Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Simmonds scored in the first period and twice more in the second for his first career post-season hat trick. Mason survived a busy first period and stopping 31 straight shots until Carl Hagelin scored late in the third.“We just didn’t get the bounce of the ball.” “Some of the decisions just didn’t go in our favour.” “We just didn’t capitalize on our chances.” These are all common excuses that are offered up by losing teams. Whether general managers, coaches or players voice them, they always sound like hollow clichés; attempts to find meaning in a failed season without ever addressing the real problem. Contrast these excuses with what you hear from winning teams. “Every player on this team is behind the manager and what he is trying to do at the club.” “We have an incredible spirit in this group; there are no bad characters in our locker room.” “When one of us is beaten on the pitch, the others dig him out of trouble and pick up the slack.” Do you see the difference? Losing teams make excuses about bad luck, about being cheated by the referee or about failing to execute in decisive moments. Winning teams talk about the strength of the relationships they have between their players. The strength of those relationships is often referred to as team chemistry. Winning teams have it and losing ones don’t. Signing new players can often disrupt a team’s chemistry because doing so introduces new variables into the team dynamics. There is a hierarchy in every locker room; there are leaders and there are followers, there are big personalities and there are quiet ones. When new personalities come into the group in the form of new signings, it can often upset the equilibrium that has been carefully crafted by the manager. It makes midseason signings even more precarious, because the team has already established its own hierarchy. It is one reason why midseason signings often need a full preseason with their new team to fully settle; they need to find their place within the team’s hierarchy, and this is often done over the course of preseason. This makes it a real challenge for any manager to integrate new players into his team during the season. Which makes the Vancouver Whitecaps’ midseason additions of both Kendall Waston and Mauro Rosales even more impressive. Both players have settled into the Whitecaps’ team very quickly and have played vital roles in Vancouver’s push to the MLS playoffs. Waston scored the only goal of the game in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids, while Rosales has added genuine pedigree to the Whitecaps’ midfield alongside Pedro Morales. Their value on the field is the easiest thing to assess. When Waston won everything in the air in the final 15 minutes of the Whitecaps’ 1-0 victory in Seattle over the league-leading Sounders two weeks ago, fans could see the importance of finally having a dominantt central defender in the team.dddddddddddd When Rosales set up both of Sebastian Fernandez’s goals in Vancouver’s 2-0 win over FC Dallas the week prior, fans could see the importance of getting quality service from wide areas in the team. Their value off the field is much more difficult for fans to quantify. Fans often don’t get to see what goes on behind the scenes, so making that assessment is largely down to guesswork. But there are clues to be seen if one looks closely enough. Waston is a gentle giant who walks around with a perpetual grin on his face. He has a huge personality, which comes across in his interviews and promotional appearances. But on the field he is not to be messed with, and he has brought a considerable physical presence to the Whitecaps’ lineup. When he scored on Saturday, he was mobbed by his teammates – all of them appreciative of what the “big man” has brought to the team. When Kekuta Manneh came into Saturday’s game as a substitute, he brought energy and urgency to the Whitecaps’ play. He forced Colorado onto the back foot and gave their defenders fits with his direct running. After Waston scored the go-ahead goal, Manneh continued to drive forward looking for another goal. In one sequence, after taking on three defenders, Manneh was sent sprawling to the turf but no foul was called. The Rapids immediately took possession and looked to hit Vancouver on the counter attack. Yet who was the first Whitecap to sprint 40 yards to put pressure on the ball with Manneh caught out of position? 33-year old Rosales. Given Rosales’ background in the game – he has played for storied sides like Dutch club Ajax and Argentina’s River Plate and Newell’s Old Boys – it would be easy for him to rest on his laurels and let his teammates carry the workload. But Rosales has done the opposite. He has knuckled down and worked his socks off since arriving in Vancouver, often leading the charge in games when possession needs to be recovered. His technical ability is superb, but it is his work-rate and professionalism that has been most impressive to his teammates. He routinely works with Vancouver’s younger players, passing along the years of knowledge he has gained to the next generation. That attitude is infectious, and it is one reason why the Whitecaps clinched a playoff berth in Carl Robinson’s first year in charge of the club. With four wins and 13 points from their last five games, Vancouver is one of the hottest teams in Major League Soccer heading into the playoffs. The Whitecaps travel to Texas on Monday to prepare for their MLS Playoff Knockout Match against FC Dallas, live on TSN on Wednesday night. ' ' '