FC Utrecht Reserves vs Ajax Reserves Predictions

Defending champions Jong Ajax have lost their last four league games on the road, but they’re rated solid odds-on shots by the bookmakers to stop the rot this Tuesday when they face off against Jong Utrecht at Sportpark De Westmaat. Utrecht are joint-bottom after winning just once this season, but they will be optimistic about causing an upset having beaten Jong Ajax in last season’s corresponding fixture.

With five wins from six at Sportpark De Toekomst, Jong Ajax have maintained the strong home form that anchored their Eerste Divisie triumph last term, and they were hugely impressive in swatting NEC aside 4-0 on match day 13.

But it’s been a different story altogether for them on the road this term. Michael Reiziger’s men have lost five of their seven outings away, including their last four, with the only success on their travels coming in early September against Jong AZ (0-1).

Ajax are 11^th in the table heading into this Tuesday’s match as a result of their contrasting records, but on paper this fixture should provide them with the ideal opportunity to gain an elusive victory outside of Amsterdam.

Hosts Jong Utrecht are winless in nine matches going into this one and have just six points on the board thus far, with goal difference the only thing keeping them off the foot of the table.

Robin Pronk’s side look booked for a season long scrap with the likes of Helmond Sport and Dordrecht to avoid the wooden spoon that they picked up in 2017/18, but there’s reason to believe that they can get something from this week’s game.

Utrecht went down 4-2 at leaders Sparta Rotterdam last week but played extremely well in the first half of that fixture, taking an unexpected 0-2 advantage through goals from Sylla Sow and top scorer Nick Venema.

Although Sparta asserted themselves to land the spoils, Utrecht will take plenty of positives from their gutsy display, which was a far cry from some of the performances they’ve turned in over the course of this season.

But aside from a 1-6 drubbing against Twente three weeks ago, Utrecht have actually been quite competitive at home, beating Jong PSV 3-2 and holding Cambuur and MVV to goalless draws. Their last outing at Sportpark De Westmaat was far from terrible  also as they were only edged out 1-2 by Roda JC.

So Pronk’s side will feel they can cause problems for this Jong Ajax team, especially after beating them 2-1 in last season’s corresponding fixture.

After four consecutive away defeats, Ajax just can’t be touched here at the prices and the value lies with backing Jong Utrecht at odds-against to avoid defeat – something they’ve managed in 50% of their home games this term. This probably won’t be a classic, but siding with the hosts in the double chance market gives us plenty of interest and we’re going for 1-1 draw at full time.