RKC vs PSV Reserves Predictions

Jong PSV make the trip to Mandemakers Stadion this Friday to take on RKC, seeking to halt a run of three games without a win and continue their head to head dominance over the Waalwijk side. Jong have come out best in five of the eight previous meetings between the teams, drawing twice, but RKC did triumph 3-2 when the sides last clashed here in March.

A 0-1 defeat at home to Den Bosch last week saw Jong PSV drop back into the bottom half of Eerste Divisie, and boss Dennis Haar will be frustrated after seeing his side’s progress halted in recent weeks.

The loss at De Herdgang followed disappointing 2-2 draws against 12^th placed MVV and second bottom Dordrecht, and Jong simply have to remedy their problems at the back to improve on their 11^th place after conceding 23 times in their 12 league outings so far this season.

It’s no surprise with that record that Jong currently have the worst rear guard in the second tier bar the bottom two, and it’s preventing them from attaining any consistency despite being prolific in front of goal with 21 scored in their dozen games.

Last week’s reversal at De Herdgang was their first at home this term where they’ve been more like the side that finished an excellent 5^th in 2017/18, but Jong’s away form is damaging with three defeats in six on their travels and just one win.

Friday’s game with RKC offers Haar’s charges a realistic chance to bolster their points tally on the road, but they did slip up in Waalwijk towards the end of last term with the hosts running out 3-2 winners.

However, that was RKC’s only victory in eight against Jong PSV, which casts doubt over their status as favourites for this week’s encounter at Mandemakers Stadion.

Fred Grim’s side started the campaign with back to back wins but have struggled massively since, picking up just one further success against bottom side Jong Utrecht in Waalwijk on match day eleven.

But their overall home record this term is respectable with eight points accrued from six outings, and they can definitely cause Jong problems here if they put their best foot forward.

That’s something they managed to do in the 2^nd Round of the KNVB Beker a fortnight when dumping out the senior PSV side 2-3, and RKC will undoubtedly be fired up here to inflict a similar result on their reserve outfit.

Nonetheless, the inconsistency and poor recent form shown by these teams means it’s best to swerve the match betting in this one, and instead focus on goals for what should be an open and entertaining clash.

The sides have kept just three clean sheets between them this term whilst four of the last six meetings have featured over 3.5 goals. We predict a similar outcome here with the defensive skills of both leaving plenty to be desired, and a 2-2 score line is distinctly possible at big odds.