Roda JC vs Helmond Sport Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Mario Engels was the hero for Roda JC last week – the prolific German’s scored his ninth goal of the season minutes from time to hand Robert Molenaar’s side a crucial 1-2 win against bottom side Jong Utrecht. It ended a run of four consecutive Eerste Divisie games without a victory for the Kerkrade outfit, who will now set about moving up the table and towards the Play-off places, starting this Friday against winless Helmond Sport at Parkstad Limburg Stadion.

A 1-1 home draw with leaders Sparta Rotterdam was the only decent result attained by Roda JC in October, as defeats to Go Ahead Eagles (3-0) and Jong PSV (2-3) dealt a significant blow to the club’s promotion hopes.

Their last gasp success over Jong Utrecht on match day 12 was far from impressive, but it was enough to stop the rot for the Kerkrade outfit who have largely fared well on the road this term with four wins and a draw accrued from seven outings.

It’s at Parkstad Limburg Stadion where Roda have really let themselves down with just five points gained from five matches, but they have an ideal opportunity to improve that record on Friday when they entertain a Helmond Sport side who are now winless in 20 matches, and who they’ve beaten five times in seven previous encounters.

Rob Alflen’s strugglers had a sniff of success at home to 5^th placed Almere City last week after taking the lead through Bodi Brusselers half an hour in, but a double salvo from Italian Edoardo Soleri turned things around for Michele Santoni’s charges.

Sport remain 18^th following their sixth defeat of the campaign, and it remains to be seen how much time Alflen will be given to try and turn things around at the club.

Roda won’t be taking the visitors for granted based on their own sketchy form and the fact that Sport have managed to avoid defeat in three of their five fixtures on the road so far this season. But it really is asking a lot of Alflen’s side to get anything at Parkstad Limburg Stadion, a venue at which they were annihilated 7-0 when the sides last clashed in Eerste Divisie.

The hosts are too short in the match betting here to warrant worthy interest, but their odds can be boosted realistically by backing both teams to score as well. Sport have netted in their last six fixtures so they can definitely get on the board here against a Roda side that have conceded eight goals in five at home, but Molenaar’s charges should be too good so it’s 2-1 Roda for us on match day 13.