AZ Reserves vs FC Utrecht Reserves Predictions

Jong AZ will bid to end a frustrating couple of weeks this Friday when they take on Jong Utrecht at AFAS Stadion.

Martin Haar’s side looked to have turned a corner after beating then Eerste Divisie leaders Go Ahead Eagles 3-2 on match day five, but things haven’t quite happened for them since with disappointing 2-2 draws against Helmond Sport and RKC coming either side of a 3-1 loss at Den Bosch. Can they bank a second win of the campaign on match day nine against second bottom Jong Utrecht?

This is Jong AZ’s second campaign in Eerste Divisie, and results haven’t really improved from last season for the Alkmaar outfit thus far.

Martin Haar’s side turned in an impressive display on match day five to beat Go Ahead Eagles 3-2 at AFAS Stadion, but that is their only victory to date from eight outings which leaves them 15^th in the table – just one spot above where they finished last term.

It’s disappointing that AZ weren’t able to build on that fine effort against Eagles, and two points from their subsequent matches against Helmond Sport, RKC and Den Bosch has to go down as a poor return.

Haar will be concerned that his team can’t seem to turn draws into wins, particularly with the prolific Ferdy Druijf in their ranks – the 20 year-old netted again at home to Sport last week in the 2-2 draw and is top scorer in Eerste Divisie with eight goals.

Friday’s game with Jong Utrecht provides AZ with a decent chance to gain their second win of the season however, and the hosts are rated strong odds-on favourites to prevail.

Jong Utrecht are just one point worse off than Jong AZ despite being 19^th, but they’ve looked a far less competent side in their eight league outings so far.

Their 2-1 defeat at Oss last week was their fifth of the campaign, and they’ve lost all four matches on the road, scoring just twice and conceding 12.

Robin Pronk’s men won 1-3 in this corresponding fixture last term, but we can’t see a repeat here based on their current form and clear travel sickness.

This should be a game where Ferdy Druijf’s eye for goal proves decisive, and we’re siding with the hosts to land the spoils with over 2.5 goals thrown in for good measure.

AZ’s four home matches so far have yielded 15 goals, and that’s just one more than Utrecht’s away fixtures which have featured 14 goals.

So things look set for an entertaining encounter this Friday, and we’re also backing a 3-1 correct score in favour of the hosts.