Roda JC vs FC Dordrecht Predictions

Roda JC made a rather indifferent start to life back in the second tier, but the Kerkrade outfit have moved back into contention for the Play-offs after notching four victories from their five matches in November. They entertain third bottom club Dordrecht this Friday evening, fresh from dealing out a 0-5 hammering to Oss on match day 16, and Robert Molenaar’s men are fancied to keep up their terrific run of form.

There were a few question marks over Roda’s mini resurgence prior to last week considering the three teams they’d beaten in November were all in the bottom six, whilst they’d also succumbed to a 2-0 loss at 10^th placed MVV a fortnight ago.

But Robert Molenaar’s side answered their critics in style by turning in what was by far their best performance of the campaign, as 4^th placed Oss were handed a 0-5 caning at Frans Heesen Stadion.

The result was all the more impressive as Oss were on a four match winning run going into that contest, but Roda looked a class apart as a brace from Eerste Divisie top scorer Huseyin Dogan spearheaded a memorable triumph for the Kerkrade outfit.

Roda are still 7^th in the standings but are now just six points behind leaders Den Bosch and three behind Twente who currently occupy the final Play-off spot.

If Roda can extend their strong run on the lead up to Christmas, they could well be in the top five at the turn of the year and they’ll back themselves to challenge for automatic promotion in the second half of the campaign if that’s the case.

Molenaar’s side have a tough couple of matches upcoming against Volendam and Den Bosch to round off 2018, but they should go into those fixtures in decent shape by claiming all three points here on match day 17.

Roda’s home form has been patchy overall this term with three wins, two draws and two defeats recorded at Parkstad Limburg Stadion, but it would be a shock were they not to improve those stats against a Dordrecht side who are winless on the road in 2018/19.

The visitors have had an encouraging couple of weeks since Scott Calderwood took over from Gerard De Nooijer, with last week’s 2-0 home win against RKC backing up a respectable 1-1 draw at Almere City on match day 15.

But the latter result was just the second point that Dordrecht have taken on the road from eight outings this term, and it’s asking a lot of Schappenkoppen here to bag their first away victory of the season against an in form Roda side who they’ve not beaten before in five previous attempts (Four wins for Roda, one draw).

The term ‘banker material’ should always be used sparingly in Eerste Divisie (last week’s crazy results epitomising exactly how unpredictable this division can be at times), but we can’t see anything other than a home win here and we’re playing with a straight bat for a three point stake.

Roda’s last two home successes against Telstar and Helmond Sport have been comprehensive 3-0 victories and we’re going to chance the same correct score here alongside our main match bet.