In discussing a player’s readiness, Crew coach Gregg Berhalter often assesses the ability of a role or bench player to come in and perform a job when asked.

He had enough players fill in for specific jobs in Crew SC’s 2-0 Saturday win over New England to form a small company.

A combination of injuries, performance-based changes and changes made due to a busy week of games ahead produced a new-look lineup in which a few players saw long-awaited playing time.

Waylon Francis made his first start since March 25 in place of Jukka Raitala at left back. Center back Josh Williams made his first start since March 18 and Hector Jimenez made his first appearance in the starting 11 since April 8. The Crew’s regular right back, Harrison Afful, was “excused” for Saturday’s game to spend time with his family, which grew by one member Tuesday when his wife, Roberta gave birth to their son, Kendrick.

“We know what Hector can do and a big part of our success this year is going to be dictated by guys who can come in and do a job for us,” Berhalter said. “We need depth and when you bring guys like Hector in, like Josh Williams, and you can get wins it means a lot.”

Playing alongside Jonathan Mensah, Williams played a big role in Crew SC’s third clean slate this season, finishing with 64 touches and a passing accuracy of 89.1 percent, second only to Federico Higuain’s 92.3 percent.

“Josh is a guy that’s been solid all year,” Berhalter said. “We brought him here for a reason. He can play an important role in what we do.”

Williams indicated the back line did a decent job of not ball watching, of staying organized enough to keep the Revs’ attacking players in front.

“It was so important for Jona(than) and Nico (Naess) and I to stay organized, organize the guys in front of us,” Williams said. “I also thought we did a good job fouling. The ball pops out? Foul, it’s a professional foul. That really limited their flow.”

In addition to Crew (5-4-1) reserves, a few regular starters saw their roles change in the win. Reprising a role he played a few times last year, Nicolai Naess pushed up from center back into a holding midfielder role. Wil Trapp moved up to the No. 8 central midfielder role, one left vacant by Artur’s absence for at least this homestand (broken wrist).

“I think I had an OK game. I played a little bit of midfielder last year, too, so it’s not completely new for me, but it’s still different because I haven’t played midfield the nine first games of the season,” Naess said. “With Wil and experienced guys around me it helped me out so I think I played an OK game.”

Berhalter said his intention for Naess on Saturday was for the young Norwegian to deliver diagonal balls from a centralized position, and he appeared to do that.

“They play a narrow diamond and we wanted to take advantage of his passing from that spot in the middle and just keep bombarding them with diagonal balls to open up space in the middle of the field eventually,” Berhalter said. “I thought he did a good job of doing that. He was intent on doing that. I told him his leg should be sore the next day from hitting so many diagonal balls. Hopefully tomorrow it will be.”

Despite a bump slightly up the field, Trapp remained the team’s leader in touches with 92. He also logged a team-high 78 passes with 87.2 percent accuracy in a role that reminded him a lot of his youth soccer days.

“I’m tired from all the running,” Trapp joked. “No, I enjoyed it. I think with Nico, who’s played in that position, the No. 6, before, it just allows Pipa and I to kind of move up a little higher, affect the game a little bit more from a possession standpoint,” Trapp said. “I felt good in it. It’s something where I’ve played that position growing up a lot.”

The key to maintaining a two-goal lead amid positional unfamiliarity? Coolness, Berhalter said.

“The guys today, whenever New England got momentum, we were able to stay calm and keep focused on what we needed to do to win the game,” he said.

A back line that hadn’t played together in a game setting stood tall despite heavy pressure over the final 13 minutes, in which New England registered six shots. Goalkeeper Zack Steffen made five saves in the win.

Crew reacts to Watson’s foul

The game grew testy in the 77th minute, when New England’s Je-Vaughn Watson clotheslined Crew substitute Niko Hansen.

At the point of contact, the ball appeared to be several yards away from Hansen. Contact also was made to Hansen’s neck, prompting an immediate reaction from Berhalter and several Crew players. Ola Kamara pantomimed a choking signal to indicate Watson connected with Hansen’s neck and Trapp went over to speak with referee Mark Geiger.

Berhalter became more irate when Watson was only shown a yellow card as a result of the play. He was then ejected from the game. In a written statement to a pool reporter, Geiger said Berhalter kicked a ball in protest, leading to his ejection. Geiger also said the foul did not merit a red card because it did not progress to “endangering the safety of the opponent” or “using excessive force.”

Before exiting the pitch, Berhalter briefly huddled with assistant Pat Onstad and delivered instructions to Williams from the sideline. He then briefly spoke to New England coach Jay Heaps and clapped in encouragement at his defense before giving a small fist pump to the crowd and exiting the field.

The behavior that led to his ejection, Berhalter said, was in reaction to the foul.

“I think fouls like that have no business in soccer. I don’t think it was a soccer play and I’m looking forward to see how video review looks at this play because it was unacceptable in my eyes and it endangered the safety of one of my players,” Berhalter said. “Any time that happens, of course you’re going to get a reaction and that was the reaction tonight.”

Berhalter referred to the MLS Disciplinary Committee, which has the power to retroactively hand down suspensions and fines. The committee typically releases its decisions on Tuesday or Wednesday following a given weekend of matches.

Several players said they were pleased to see Berhalter’s reaction.

“I mean, it’s fantastic,” Trapp said. “It was a ridiculous challenge and I’m sure the disciplinary committee will look at it because it’s one of those plays where (Watson is) not really making a play for the ball and he’s going above the neck. It’s a nasty challenge, so we always want to keep our cool but at times it’s good to see the fire.”

Said Kamara: “For me, I saw the situation exactly like Gregg saw it. I felt like it was neck or throat, you know? I mean, of course in that situation I feel like if you’re passionate about your players you act that way.”

According to MLS Disciplinary Committee Principles and Parameters, a coach ejection does come with a one-match suspension. Coach/staff-related suspension appeals are heard by the Disciplinary Committee.

@AEricksonCD