PSV Reserves vs Helmond Sport Predictions

Jong PSV will be out to bounce back from a 4-1 beating at Oss on match day two, when they face off against Helmond Sport at De Herdgang in Eerste Divisie this Friday.

Jong’s comprehensive defeat to Oss was the shock of the round on match day two. They’d started the season in solid fashion with a 2-1 success against city rivals FC Eindhoven, and travelled to Frans Heesen Stadion confident having beaten Klaas Wels’ side 5-1 and 0-3 in Eerste Divisie last term.

Oss didn’t read the script however, and the hosts raced into a two goal lead within 15 minutes, after goals from Nieveld and Dogan. Jong threatened to get back into the game after Ramon Lundqvist converted a penalty on the half hour mark, but further strikes from Dogan and Smeets put the game to bed in style in the second half.

The result showed that Jong are still vulnerable on the road having lost eight of their 19 away games last season, and Dennis Haar’s charges will need to quickly pick themselves up ahead of this Friday’s match.

Jong have proved themselves to be a much more reliable team at home in recent times, and their strong record at De Herdgang was key to their 5^th place finish in the 2017/18 campaign.

Haar’s men notched just shy of two points per game after winning 11 and drawing four of their 19 home fixtures, a tally bettered only by Jong Ajax, Fortuna Sittard and NEC who all finished above them.

But interestingly, despite finishing second bottom last term, Helmond Sport were one of the four teams to snatch all three points in Eindhoven via a 1-2 win – and that has to play on the mind of Jong going into match day three.

Following their dismal overall display last season, there have been some green shoots for Helmond Sport so far this time around, as new boss Rob Alflen bids to stabilise the defence and make his side harder to beat.

Sport lost 20 of their 38 matches last term, conceding 67 goals in the process, so two draws from their two fixtures to date in 2018/19 is a mark of progress, particularly as they kept a clean sheet away at Dordrecht on the opening night, and then held promotion favourites FC Twente to a 2-2 draw at home last Friday.

As well as Helmond’s success in Eindhoven back in January, it’s important to note that Sport have traditionally always held their own against Jong. They’ve beaten them in each of the last four Eerste Divisie campaigns, and that stat alone means Jong are far from certain to prevail here, despite being odds-on.

But although Helmond’s recent draws have been positive, Friday’s visitors haven’t won in their last nine games or their last six away, which dampens enthusiasm that they can cause what would be considered as an upset.

So with a few doubts about both teams at the prices, we’re looking at goals here instead and backing over 2.5 goals with both teams to score.

That has been the outcome in four of the previous six meetings between the sides and in 13 of Jong’s last 20 home matches.

We’re also going for a 2-1 score line in favour of the hosts. They are our marginal preference for the three points but not enough to get involved in the match betting at odds-on.