Chris Cummins figures Toronto FC needs four more wins. (Chris Young/Canadian Press)

Chris Cummins has seen the light.

Less than a week after telling reporters he wasn't "overly concerned" about his team's woeful road record this season, the Toronto FC coach admitted Monday that his club's lack of proficiency away from home could very well cost them their first playoff berth in franchise history.

With just two wins in 10 road contests thus far — and only nine points earned out of a possible 30 — the writing is clearly on the wall for Toronto FC, a team that is fighting for its playoff life and must play five of the last eight games of the regular season on the road.

Toronto's record away from home is "something that we're not proud of. Of course we're not. We know we need to improve on it and if we don't pick up points on the road, we won't make the playoffs,” Cummins conceded after Monday's morning practice.

Cummins' proclamation represents a major about-face, having become defensive when CBCSports.ca suggested that the Reds have looked less than impressive on their travels away from the cozy confines of BMO Field during the current MLS campaign.

"I'm not overly concerned about our away record, to be honest with you," Cummins replied during a media scrum last week.

Perhaps Saturday's 2-0 loss to Chivas USA in Los Angeles, a game that saw Toronto fail to register a single shot on goal, led to his epiphany.

"I was a little bit lost for words for what to say after the [Chivas] game," Cummins said

Whatever led to Cummins' startling about-face doesn't really matter — the point is that the gravity of the situation has sunk in.

'We need to take points on the road'

With 30 points, Toronto currently sits seventh overall in the MLS standings, and holds the second-last playoff berth.

But several teams are within striking distance of the Canadian club, including the New England Revolution and Colorado Rapids (30 points each), D.C. United (29) and Real Salt Lake (27).

With things so tight, Cummins admitted that he believes Toronto needs at least 12 more points from their final eight games in order to secure a spot in the post-season.

"If we're going to get into the playoffs, we need to take points on the road. Eight games to go, we know we need four wins, minimum," Cummins stated.

Toronto visits the Seattle Sounders on Aug. 29 (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 3:30 p.m. ET) before wrapping up their three-game road swing on Sept. 5 versus Colorado.

The Seattle game poses a tough challenge.

The Sounders sport a 6-2-4 record at home, and routinely draw over 29,000 fans to their games, making Qwest Stadium one of the most intimidating venues in the league for visiting teams.

Making matters even more difficult for Toronto, the club will be without two key starters in defender Adrian Serioux and midfielder Carl Robinson due to suspensions.