Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith acknowledges whoever replaces the suspended Ashley Westwood for Wednesday's meeting with New York City will have big shoes to fill.

Westwood will miss Charlotte's midweek game after picking up his fifth yellow card of the MLS season, during Saturday's 2-2 draw with FC Cincinnati.

The Crown are now winless in four games, having lost three in a row prior to the Cincinnati match, and in Westwood, they will be without their captain and a player who has started 11 of their 12 games and played 1,024 minutes this season.

Asked how much Westwood's absence will hurt Charlotte, Smith said: "I'll tell you on Wednesday night after the game! But listen, he's been pivotal for us. We know that.

"But we have got people waiting in the wings, ready for opportunities. I spoke a lot about having more depth this season, certainly in midfield. 

"So we've got people who can come and step in for him, but they are big boots to fill because I think he's been having a good season."

Charlotte were 2-0 down against Cincinnati before Idan Toklomati and Pep Biel struck in the space of two minutes at the start of the second half.

The Crown are eighth in the Eastern Conference, only behind NYCFC on goal difference. As they approach their final three games before the World Cup break, Smith wants more stability from his side. 

"We need more consistency," Smith said. "I asked the players, on the first day I came here, to get bums off seats. We weren't giving them anything to cheer about. 

"I challenged them to go and play with a tempo, an energy. We have an amazing record at this place, at home, and that's a reason – because the supporters here enjoy the game, it's entertainment for them and they make an atmosphere.

"Number two, we respond to that as well. We normally put in a performance because of that, and I don't think we did that in the first half. "

NYCFC ended a seven-game winless run by beating the Columbus Crew 3-0 last time out, with Hannes Wolf scoring a hat-trick to decide that encounter at Yankee Stadium.

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Charlotte FC – Pep Biel 

Biel has 10 goal involvements in MLS this season, scoring six and assisting four. 

Lionel Messi, Petar Musa (both 12), Hugo Cuypers and Prince Owusu (both 11) are the only players with more direct goal contributions in 2026.

New York City FC – Hannes Wolf

Wolf's hat-trick against Columbus was his first in MLS and took him to 20 goals for NYCFC in all competitions, four of which have come against the Crew.

MATCH PREDICTION – CHARLOTTE FC WIN

Charlotte may be winless in four MLS games, but with home advantage on their side, the Opta supercomputer makes them slight favourites.

The Crown won the reverse fixture 2-1 on their travels in April, with Idan Toklomati and Kerwin Vargas on the scoresheet. 

Charlotte have only lost one of their six home MLS games this season, winning three, drawing two and losing one. 

NYCFC, meanwhile, have lost four of their last six matches, winning one and drawing one, while they have only won once on the road this campaign, in four attempts.  

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Charlotte FC – 44%

New York City FC – 31.5%

Draw – 24.5%