Nashville SC is 0-3-2 on road after scoreless draw vs CF Montreal

Nashville SC's difficulties to score away from Geodis Park continued Saturday, but its defense did enough to earn a point in an 0-0 draw with CF Montreal at Stade Saputo.

Nashville (3-4-7, 16 points) is now 0-3-2 on the road in MLS play, with just two goals in those five games. One was a 90th-minute penalty kick by Teal Bunbury to salvage a draw with the Colorado Rapids; the other was an Inter Miami own goal in a game NSC ultimately lost 3-1.

The match kicked off a stretch of three games in seven days for Nashville, which heads to FC Cincinnati on Wednesday.

Nervous moments for Nashville, Montreal

Neither side had much sustained pressure over the first 45 minutes, with the best chances coming in fits and starts and ending with imprecise finishing.

In the 33rd minute, Anibal Godoy intercepted a lazy pass by Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois, setting up a pair of attempts by Nashville. Sam Surridge had his shot cleared off the goal line by a desperate Joel Waterman, and Jacob Shaffelburg's shot was blocked by Gabriele Corbo.

Five minutes later, Hany Mukhtar gave the ball away while being hounded by two Montreal defenders, leading to a shot by Jules-Anthony Vilsaint which Joe Willis turned over the crossbar. Shaffelburg later won a footrace with Bryce Duke, who snuck behind the entire Nashville defense after a corner kick and had what appeared to be a clear chance on goal.

Hany Mukhtar playing new role in Rumba Munthali's formation

In two games under interim coach Rumba Munthali since the May 16 firing of Gary Smith, Nashville has lined up in a 4-3-3 rather than the five-at-the-back formation often employed this season. Its starting 11 has been the same in both games as well.

Mukhtar, the team's points leader (three goals, four assists), has found himself in a different role in the new formation, playing as more of an attacking midfielder rather than strictly up top. Munthali said that Mukhtar had to drop back deeper to collect the ball in the first half, but over the last 45 minutes, he was able to gain possession higher up the field and get Nashville's forwards more into the action.

Against Montreal, Mukhtar completed 46 passes, third-most on the team and the most of the season for him.

"I thought he was very effective and helped start some of the attacks we had," Munthali said. "He's a catalyst for us to go forward and create chances."

Nashville defense finding form

Since the month of May began, Nashville's defense has looked much more like the unit that tied for the fewest goals allowed in MLS last season.

After a record 10 straight games without recording a shutout, NSC has now had two in its last six games, and allowed only one goal in each of the other four. One of those goals was an own goal, which came in a 4-1 win over Montreal on May 4.

MORE: Nashville SC coaching search: 15 potential candidates to replace Gary Smith

Willis only needed to make two saves to post his third shutout of the season, as nine of Montreal's 11 shots Saturday were off-target.

"I think the staple of our club is to be a hard-working defensive team," Munthali said. "We've already got that foundation, and ... we're starting to get guys who are regulars coming back into the lineup who have played together, have some continuity. I think that translates onto the field."

Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com and on Twitter @Jacob_Shames.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville SC is 0-3-2 on road after scoreless draw vs CF Montreal