Ajax Reserves vs FC Eindhoven Predictions

A second away defeat of the campaign at Go Ahead Eagles last week means that defending champions Jong Ajax sit 8^th in Eerste Divisie and five points off the pace heading into this Friday’s encounter with FC Eindhoven. A return to home comforts and weaker opposition sees Michael Reiziger’s side installed as lengthy odds-on favourites to return to winning ways on match day seven, but can they land the spoils as expected?

Jong Ajax had been in great form since losing 2-1 at Roda JC on the opening night of the season, bagging a ten point haul from their next four fixtures courtesy of wins against Dordrecht, Helmond Sport, Jong AZ and a draw with Den Bosch.

It left the reigning champs in a position to get right in amongst the Eerste Divisie leaders as they lined up to face Go Ahead last Friday, but Michael Reiziger’s men blew their chance at De Adelaarshorst, losing 2-1 to drop out of the top six and instead send Eagles back to the top of the table.

Jong’s results at home and on the road were fairly balanced last term en route to the title, with 13 victories gained from 19 starts at Sportpark De Toekomst and 12 from 19 away outings.

But there’s been a marked difference in their performance levels so far this season. Jong have looked strong and accomplished at home in beating Dordrecht 5-2 and Helmond Sport 2-0. However, their efforts in defeat to Roda JC and Go Ahead on their travels have been shaky, to say the least.

Their 0-1 success at Jong AZ and 1-1 draw at Den Bosch were slightly improved displays, but there’s certainly a question mark hanging over Reiziger’s side at the moment when they’re outside the confides of their home ground.

Fortunately for Jong, that’s where they return this Friday and they’re up against an FC Eindhoven team that’s languishing at the foot of the table.

Eerste Divisie’s longest consecutive servants have failed to win any of their games so far in 2018/19, and there appears to be no realistic chance that they’ll end their 42 year stay in the second tier.

Nonetheless, David Nascimento’s side did manage to end a run of five straight defeats by scrapping out a 0-0 stalemate at Roda JC last week – and that’s a result that most teams in this league would be proud of.

Looking holistically at the season to date though, we don’t offer much hope for Friday’s visitors, who’ve managed to hit the net just twice in their six league outings.

They lost both Eerste Divisie encounters with Jong last term including a 4-0 drubbing here, and any confidence gained from the point they earned at Roda could well have been wiped out by their early Dutch Cup exit to Go Ahead in midweek, as Nascimento’s side folded tamely in a 2-0 defeat.

Jong Ajax’s terribly short match odds make no appeal here despite being fully justified, and it’s equally hard to work a handicap angle, considering Eindhoven haven’t lost any of their games this season by more than two goals.

However, with the visitors drawing a blank in their last five matches in all competitions, a win to nil for Jong Ajax looks far more likely than the generous odds on offer, and that’s our confident shout here, with the hosts fancied to win 2-0.