If the Tampa Bay Rowdies want to secure the fourth and final spot in the NASL postseason on Halloween night, they will need to pull off a few first time feats.

The only thing that will clinch the spot on Saturday is a full three-point result against the New York Cosmos. The Rowdies, though, have yet to win a road match since the opening week of the Spring Season, have yet to win a match on artificial turf, have yet to win an away game in New York in the modern era, and they have failed to post consecutive wins once during the Fall Season.

“Well first of all, you just ruined my day. So thanks,” said Rowdies Head Coach Stuart Campbell when presented with the dire facts. “On a serious note, with everything pointing against us this weekend, honestly my mindset is that everything is set up for us to go to New York and win.”

Campbell has cause to carry a positive outlook into this weekend’s regular season finale. His first win after assuming the head coaching position came against the Cosmos back on September 5. The Rowdies put in one of their best overall performances of the year that night and knocked off the then league-leaders 2-0 through goals from Corey Hertzog and Darwin Espinal.

“I think the aggression that we showed [against New York],” remarked Campbell on what spurred that victory. “The speed of our players and the way we moved the ball. Really the movement of our players in that match, that’s something that we’re going to have to do again.”

Consistency has bee hard to come by for the Rowdies since that match, though they have gone unbeaten in their last three and now control their playoff destiny as the clock is about to strike midnight on the NASL regular season.

The often lethargic attack showed signs of life in the first half of last weekend’s 1-0 win over the Carolina RailHawks, posting seven shots on goal. Campbell made some slight adjustments for that match and was happy with the overall effort despite not finding the net more than once.

“We had Freddy Adu playing in a more central area, so he helped us create some more chances. Also, it was important to have Darnell King and Darwin Espinal in the starting lineup. Those are two of the players with genuine pace on the team. I thought the front four played generally pretty well.”

The club’s leading scorer Maicon Santos made a surprise return to action in the recent win as a second half substitute. The often-injured forward went down with an off the ball injury shortly after entering, but it wasn’t anything serious and he has been able to train all week.

Midfielder Juan Guerra’s status for the finale, though, is questionable. A knee injury sustained in the 1-1 draw with Ottawa Fury FC has kept him out of the line up and Campbell did not give an update on his availability.

The Cosmos could have plenty to fight for on Saturday themselves. If Ottawa stumbles in their match with Atlanta, then the door to claim home field advantage is left wide open for the Cosmos. Regardless of what motivations New York has, Campbell expects a tough match up from one of the most talented opponents in the league.

“They have world class players, so we have to be at our absolute best to nullify their impact on the game.”

As far as overcoming the road and artificial turf woes that have troubled the Rowdies all year, Campbell isn’t letting any of it overwhelm or distract the team from the simple task at hand. Win and you’re in.

“The couple of points that we have gotten on the road under me have come on turf. So hopefully that’s a good omen for us. We just have to go out with the same mentality that we did in those matches. We need to take that same aggression and defensive mindset, and then obviously carry it into the attacking third.”

IMAGE, BRIAN BLANCO/TAMPA BAY ROWDIES