Dean Smith says he is not concerned by Charlotte FC's poor MLS away form this season and expects the team to put it right against CF Montreal on Saturday.

Charlotte are fourth in the Eastern Conference after seven games but have struggled to pick up points on the road so far.

All four of their wins have come on home soil, including a 2-1 comeback win over Nashville SC last time out, while they have earned just one point away from home – a 2-2 draw with Seattle Sounders on the opening weekend.

Having lost their last two road games, Smith remains calm and believes they can improve their recent record.

"We didn't play well against Colorado [Rapids] and [FC] Cincinnati, but we've improved year-on-year with our road trip form, so I'm not overly concerned that we won't go away and get a result," he said.

"We proved last season; it's been our best away performances as a club, so I'm confident we'll try and better that again."

Smith also confirmed they will be without Wilfried Zaha this weekend, after he had an operation on his thumb earlier this week.

As for Montreal, they sit bottom of the East, having failed to win any of their seven MLS games so far this season.

They have just two points to their name, with one of those coming in the first of interim head coach Marco Donadel's two games in charge so far (1-1 v Chicago Fire).

Montreal suffered defeat to Columbus Crew last time out, but Donadel says he saw positives in that game.

"Sometimes we had a good pattern that unbalances opponents, but we need to find the right pass," he said.

"We have shown good energy, and that is most important. We show the energy when we try to pass forward and help the guys running forward. This is the energy [we need], and that's what I like.

"Sometimes we're missing the quality in the last third, but if we're there, I'm very happy with that."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

CF Montreal – Prince Owusu

Prince Owusu has been directly involved in three of CF Montreal's four goals this season (two goals, one assist), including scoring the lone goal in the 2-1 defeat to Columbus Crew last Saturday.

Charlotte FC – Idan Toklomati

Charlotte scored in the 85th and 90th minutes to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win over Nashville SC on Saturday, with Idan Toklomati scoring the winner off the bench.

It was the latest Charlotte have ever trailed in a match in which they won, and they became the first team this season to win a match in which they were trailing entering the 85th minute.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Charlotte's 2-1 win over Montreal in the last meeting between the sides last October was their first win in the series. Charlotte had been held to two total goals in their first five meetings with Montreal (D1 L4).

Charlotte have won each of their first four home matches of the season but have managed just one point in three matches on the road. In fact, they have just one win in their last 12 away matches in all competitions dating back to mid-July last year (D5 L6).

Montreal, however, are one of two teams (along with LA Galaxy) to total two points through seven matches of the 2025 season. Entering this year, only three teams had collected two or fewer points through seven matches in the first 29 MLS seasons.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

CF Montreal – 37.3%

Draw – 26.3%

Charlotte FC – 36.4%