• Tulsa Roughnecks currently sit at the bottom of the USL Western Conference table with just 7 points, 13 places and 21 points behind Rising in 2^nd place.  They’ve yet to win a single competitive game this season, drawing 7 and losing 6 in the league, and were also eliminated from the US Open Cup by NPSL team FC Wichita.
• The most recent meeting between both sides was on May 12.  Rising emerged as dominant 5-1 winners on the road, with goals from Kevon Lambert, Chris Cortez, Kody Wakasa and a brace from Didier Drogba.
• Since that game, Tulsa have drawn 2 and lost 2 games.  Back-to-back 1-1 draws, away to San Antonio and at home to OKC, were followed by a 1-0 defeat away to Los Dos, and a 3-0 home defeat by Saint Louis.
• There’s been 2 additions to the Roughnecks’ roster since their May 12 game against Rising.  19 year-old Tulsa native DJ Dean signed his first professional contract at ONEOK Field last week, and was a non-playing substitute against Saint Louis.  Dean prefers to play up front, but can also be used in midfield, and will be hoping to make his USL debut at some point tonight.
• Forward Christian Thierjung has also re-joined the Roughnecks on loan from Reno 1868.  Thierjung spent the final half of the 2017 season with the Roughnecks, scoring 4 goals in 16 appearances.
• Despite their poor results to date, the Roughnecks are capable with the ball at their feet.  In fact, their passing accuracy is one percentage point higher than Rising’s at 75%.
• Defensively, Tulsa have managed to keep only one clean sheet – a goalless draw at home to Timbers 2 at the beginning of April.  Fabián Cerda has let in 23 of the 25 USL goals conceded by Roughnecks to date.  The Chilean moved to ONEOK Field in 2017, and kept 9 clean sheets in in 24 appearances last season with a 74.4% save success rate. However, the former Universidad Católica and Trasandino keeper has found life tougher this year, with a solitary clean sheet in 12 games, and a 66.7% save success rate.
• The Roughnecks often start and end games poorly, with 16 of their 25 conceded goals scored in the first 15 or final 15 minutes of league games.
• Goals at the other end have also been in short supply.  Tulsa have failed to score in 5 of their 13 games to date, and managed a mere 10 goals (32^nd in the USL).  Taking fewer shots than the USL average, their conversion rate at 9% is also one of the worst in the league.  For comparison, Rising’s shots-to-goals conversion rate is 15%.
• Argentinian 23 year-old forward Fernando Arce has attempted the most Tulsa shots – 18 in 8 games, 5 of them on target – but he has only 1 goal to his name.  That was a penalty scored in the previous encounter against Rising.
• 25-year-old Uruguayan forward Jhon Pírez has struggled to make an impact so far this season.  The former Chelsea Academy player has made 10 appearances, but is only averaging 1 shot per game, with not a single goal to his name.
• The Roughnecks most potent attacking threat is midfielder Joaquin Rivas. The Salvadorian former Sacramento player is in his second year at ONEOK Field, and has already surpassed his 2017 tally, netting 6 goals.  No other player on the side has scored more than once.
• Rivas has started all 13 games this season, clocking up 1,137 minutes of game play.  One teammate has played a part in all 13 games.  That’s defender Paris Gee.  Currently in his second season at ONEOK Field, Gee has also played for NK Rudeš in the Croatian 2. HNL (2014-2016).  The defender has contributed an impressive 4 assists this season – the last coming in the 1-1 draw at home to Reno on May 9.
• Poor on-field discipline hasn’t helped the Roughnecks cause.  To date, they have collected 31 yellow cards and 5 red cards.
• Francisco Ugarte has been dismissed twice this season.  The Germany-born Chilean defender joined Tulsa in 2017 from FC 07 Albstadt in Germany.
• Another Chilean defender, the veteran Claudio Muñoz, has also picked up a red, along with Michael Binns and Riggs Lennon.
• Center back Adriano Jusino, and former Sacramento, Orange County and Saint Louis defensive midfielder Ivan Mirković have collected the most yellows, with 6 and 4 cards respectively.

From The Ashes Prediction:  Home win for Rising