Coming off one of their worst defeats in recent memory, things aren’t going to get any easier for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Major League Soccer club was embarrassed in a 4-0 road loss to previously winless D.C. United last weekend, and now faces a tough test on Saturday in another away tilt against undefeated Real Salt Lake.

The Whitecaps (2-3-2) came into the game at United unbeaten in four, but were never in the match thanks to lacklustre defending and little creativity up front until the result was pretty much decided.

“We lost a game of football. It happens sometimes,” said Vancouver head coach Carl Robinson. “When it happens, you’ve got to accept it. We have. The group in there are an honest group, and as I said at the game, we were second best. We don’t like it, but we have to accept it and we move on.

“We know we need to be better.”

The Whitecaps were without their three designated players against D.C. as captain Pedro Morales (injured), striker Octavio Rivero (injured) and midfielder Matias Laba (suspended) all sat out.

“Obviously the boys are disappointed. I think we deserved what we got,” said Whitecaps defender Fraser Aird. “We didn’t play as well as we know we can.”

Vancouver has yet to start the same 11 players for a game in 2016 because of injuries, suspensions and international call-ups, and that trend is likely to continue against Real.

“We can make all the excuses in the world,” added Aird. “We didn’t deserve to win.”

Real Salt Lake (3-0-2) is the only club yet to taste defeat in MLS, with five-foot-four striker Joao Plata having played a part seven of his team’s nine goals (four goals, three assists).

“He’s a good little player,” said Robinson. “He’s obviously started the season very well. He’s been dangerous wherever he is on the field.

“He’s going to be one of a number of dangerous players they have. Hopefully on Saturday, my dangerous players, our dangerous players, can connect as well. It should make it an exciting game.”

The good news for the Whitecaps is they have dominated Real in recent meetings. Vancouver has won four straight in the series, including the club’s first-ever victory at Rio Tinto Stadium in April 2015.

On the downside, Vancouver has still yet to score from open play this season, with one goal coming off a corner kick and another off a free kick to goal along with four converted penalties from Morales.

“I think we need maybe one to go off the backside of someone,” said Robinson. “It usually comes in spurts. Hopefully we can get one, then we might get a couple.”

The debacle in D.C. represented the fifth time the Whitecaps have surrendered four goals in an MLS game since joining the league in 2011, and the most in Robinson’s two-plus seasons in charge.

“We’ve just got to continue working,” said Robinson. “Sometimes it doesn’t go your way. You either can sulk about it or you can get on with it.”

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