Roda JC vs FC Utrecht Reserves Predictions

Roda JC fans were hoping that a change in manager would bring an upturn in fortunes but that has not been the case so far. After a 2-2 home draw against MVV on match day 30, the Kerkrade outfit were demolished 4-0 by perennial Eerste Divisie stragglers Helmond Sport on Friday night, and new boss Eric van Der Luer now faces a huge task to get his team back into the Play-offs after falling to 11^th. The visit of bottom side Jong Utrecht to Parkstad Limburg Stadion this Monday offers Roda a chance to make amends, but can they take it to halt a run of six league games without a win?

Despite Roda’s rotten recent form, there was little to suggest that Helmond Sport could beat them on Friday evening, and the game at Lavans Stadion seemed the perfect opportunity for new manager Eric van der Luer to record his first win in charge of the club.

Roda had dominated the return fixture 3-0 in Kerkrade and started odds-on favourites to best Sport again, but Rob Alflen’s charges were having none of it.

An Arnie Naudts double spearheaded a richly deserved success for the side currently sitting second bottom in Eerste Divisie, and the result leaves Roda in tatters with just seven games of the regular season to go.

The Play-offs are an absolute must for Roda after relegation from Eredivisie last term, but they will do well from here to roust themselves as their results and performances have gradually being tailing off since the beginning of February.

Their record reads one win, three draws and five defeats from that point, and they are now behind a clutch of teams in the top nine who are collecting a decent ratio of points week to week.

If Roda are to turn things around, they simply have to win this Monday’s match at home to basement boys Jong Utrecht and they should be good enough to do that.

Emphasis is on the word ‘should’ though, and the advice is to avoid van der Luer’s charges here at heavy odds-on – despite the poor quality of opposition.

Jong Utrecht ended an unbelievable streak of 12 straight defeats with a decent 3-3 draw at Jong Ajax on match day 30, but it was business as usual on Friday as 2^nd placed Sparta romped to a 1-5 success at Sportpark De Westmaat.

Jong travel to Kerkrade having gained just three draws from 15 outings on the road this term which appropriately summarises their chances of landing the three points here, but we can usually rely on Robin Pronk’s side to get on the scoresheet.

They have netted in nine of their last ten games whilst Roda have conceded in nine of their last ten fixtures, so the solid wager here is backing both teams to score alongside a 2-1 correct score in favour of the hosts.