New York City FC head coach Jason Kreis has made it clear that he has not been pleased with his side’s effort in recent matches.

He even went as far as to call out his players’ desire after a string of two straight losses.

Kreis’ team lost again Saturday night – falling 2-1 to FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium – but this time there would be no criticism of their fight after a comeback effort from a 2-0 halftime deficit fell just short.

“I was actually really pleased. I felt this was a really solid effort on our group’s part,” Kreis said. “I thought that collectively they were willing and able to battle a little bit more than I had seen them over the past several weeks. So really pleased with the effort and commitment level, and obviously just a little disappointed we couldn’t quite get that goal tonight to level things.”

Still NYCFC was on the wrong end of another result, losing for the third straight time, and their playoff hopes are growing slimmer with each and every loss.

NYCFC have won just once in their last seven games and are five points from the red line with six games to play. The Montreal Impact, who occupy the sixth and final postseason spot in the East have three games in hand.

While there was no quit, the expansion side was punished for allowing two goals in the waning moments of the first half – first in the 45th minute on a Tesho Akindele strike and then four minutes later in first-half stoppage time on an olimpico goal from Michel.

NYCFC goalkeeper Josh Saunders, who has been stout all season, said he takes the blame for Michel’s eventual winner, bent in directly off a corner kick.

“On the second goal, I came off on the corner kick that I needed to execute a play on, so I take responsibility for us losing this game,” Saunders said. “I didn’t make a play that I should have, but the fight was there.”

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Patrick Mullins, who replaced NYCFC striker David Villa (hamstring) at halftime, had a hand in the fightback with the visitors' only goal, a penalty kick in the 70th minute after Dallas defender Atiba Harris leveled NYCFC midfielder Ned Grabavoy in the box.

“I thought, except for the five-minute span where they got two goals, defensively we were really good,” Mullins said. “We were dangerous going forward. I always feel that we can score goals. Our effort on both sides of the ball was really good tonight, and that will give you a chance to win anywhere in this league.”

NYCFC started all three of its Designated Players, but also ended the game without any of them on the field. After Villa went off injured at halftime, both Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard were subbed off in a double switch in the 66th minute for Kwadwo Poku and Mix Diskerud.

“We made a point of really getting at those guys and telling everybody they need to be ready and making positive contributions when they come in,” Kreis said. “So, we’re really pleased with the energy they brought to the game.”

Dylan Butler covers NYCFC for MLSsoccer.com.