Almere City FC vs Helmond Sport Predictions

Along with Jong Utrecht, Helmond Sport have been jointly responsible for propping up the Eerste Divisie table for much of the campaign however they undoubtedly turned in the performance of the round on match day 31. Rob Alflen’s side battered toiling Roda JC 4-0 at Lavans Stadion to earn their first win in 12 and moved three points clear of Jong in the battle to avoid the wooden spoon. Sport will now be hoping to take that momentum forward and finally land their first away victory of the season when they face Almere City on Monday.

Wins are certainly a rare occurrence for Helmond Sport these days and Friday’s success over Roda JC was just their third league victory in 38 outings taking the back end of last season into account.

Considering Roda’s recent woes, the result wasn’t quite as shocking as Sport’s 3-0 triumph over 2^nd placed Sparta Rotterdam in November, but it was a truly fine effort from a side that are generally outclassed on a weekly basis.

It begs the question as to why Sport can’t replicate such performances more often, however keen followers of the Dutch second tier will know that the teams marooned at the foot of the table can turn in a blinder from time to time – and it’s often difficult to see it coming.

Following up a good result is a different matter altogether for Eerste Divisie’s struggling sides – and this is typified by Sport’s run of just one win from 14 after those aforementioned heroics against Sparta.

So we may have to wait a while before Sport register another three points and it’s likely that they will find life difficult when they pitch up at Yanmar Stadion on Monday.

Almere City are really starting to motor under new manager Ole Tobiasen, and Friday’s 0-1 win at Cambuur took their points haul to ten from a possible 15 since the Dane took the hotseat at the beginning of March.

They are now back up to 7^th in the standings after slumping as low as 15^th when Michele Santoni was in charge, and a Play-off place should be secured for Schappenkoppen if they can win at least three of their seven remaining matches.

After winning three out of their last four at home including a resounding 3-0 beating of Oss a fortnight ago, City should be too far too strong here for Sport who have claimed just five points from a possible 45 on the road this season.

We’re confident that the hosts can do the business on Monday as they did when seeing off Helmond 1-2 in November’s reverse fixture, and a two point stake is recommended on Tobiasen’s side to cover a one goal handicap, whilst 3-0 is our prediction in the correct score market.