FC Utrecht Reserves vs Twente Predictions

A surprise 0-1 defeat at home to MVV last week saw Twente lose vital ground in the Eerste Divisie promotion race, but Marino Pusic’s side have a superb opportunity to get back into the top five this Monday when they take on 18^th placed Jong Utrecht at Sportpark De Westmaat. Twente are unbeaten on the road so far this term, and will be confident of maintaining that run against Robin Pronk’s charges, who’ve won just once from nine outings this term.

Match day ten rounds off at Sportpark De Westmaat this Monday as Jong Utrecht and Twente square off for the first ever time. Twente have of course endured plenty of battles with the senior Utrecht side in the past and have 16 wins and 9 draws in their favour from 35 meetings, so the trip to take on the reserve outfit of their former Eredivisie rivals will present Marino Pusic’s men with another reality check in terms of their current second tier status.

Twente’s aim this season is an immediate return to the top flight and the Enschede side were ticking along pretty nicely until last week’s 0-1 reversal at home to mid-table MVV. It marked Twente’s second defeat from five at De Grolsch Veste this term and was a huge disappointment, considering their ground was expected to be a fortress for them in their bid for promotion.

Twente have still managed to bag three victories at home, but in truth Marino Pusic’s side have looked more solid on the road – winning two and drawing two from their four away assignments.

And this week’s visit to Sportpark de Westmaat looks to be their easiest trip of the season s so far, and a perfect chance for them to move up from 6^th and back into the Play-off places.

Jong Utrecht finished bottom in the 2017/18 campaign and are struggling once again this season as anticipated. Robin Pronk’s side have just one win on the board from their nine fixtures and are without a victory in their last five.

Even so, they’re currently two places better off than how they finished last season and that’s due to some fairly competent performances at home.

Jong have picked up five of their six points at Sportpark De Westmaat and have lost just one of their four fixtures at home. That defeat was only a narrow one, as 5^th placed NEC got the better of them 1-2 on match day two, and they’ve since beaten Jong PSV 3-2 and held Cambuur and MVV to goalless draws.

So this Monday’s clash is perhaps not quite as easy as it immediately looks on paper for Twente, and it’s worth noting that the visitors have conceded in all but one of their Eerste Divisie matches so far this season.

We think that trend will continue here, but we do expect Twente to react to last week’s loss and show enough class to come through. With a place back in the top five to motivate them, we’re predicting a Twente win with both teams to score and a 1-2 final score.