How Cameron Knowles turned around Loons after historic loss to Vancouver

(John Autey/Pioneer Press/TNS)

Minnesota United at FC Dallas

When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
Stream: Apple TV
Radio: KSTP-AM, 1500
Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy, 12 mph northwest wind

Form: MNUFC (4-2-2, 14 points) is unbeaten in four MLS games with a 2-0 home victory over Portland on Saturday. Dallas (3-1-4, 13 points) is unbeaten in five league games with back-to-back draws against St. Louis (1-1) and L.A. Galaxy (2-2) in the last two weeks.

Storyline: The Loons’ consecutive defeats to Nashville (3-1 on March 7) and Vancouver (6-0 on March 15) were an early test to new head coach Cameron Knowles’ tenure. But the stakes didn’t seem heightened to striker Kelvin Yeboah.

“I think (Knowles’ reaction) was right in the middle … not being too upset with the team but also not being too passive,” Yeboah said after scoring his fifth goal of the season on Saturday. “He really helped … give us the tips, and be proactive and build the connection.”

Knowles saw the players take ownership for the Whitecaps blowout, the most-lopsided defeat in club history.

“They knew they were better than that,” Knowles said Tuesday. “They know that performance was a blip on the radar. I think the big thing for us as a staff was just to provide some stability and help provide a structure that starts getting us closer to where we want to be again.”

Knowles didn’t see it as a pivotal position for himself, but he pointed out the hard start to the season. Nashville and Vancouver lead each conference.

“One, it is stepping back and taking a broad look at things,” he said.

Knowles is becoming known for an even-keel approach as a manager, expect in one setting.