Roda JC vs PSV Reserves Predictions

After an indifferent start to the campaign, Robert Molenaar’s Roda JC really kick started their season on match day seven as a second half strike from Gyliano van Velzen proved enough to snatch a vital three points at high flying Cambuur. The Kerkrade outfit are 7^th heading into this week’s home clash with Jong PSV, where they’ll be expected to follow up with another success.

Roda JC are just two points behind the Play-off places seven games in, and that’s not a bad position to be in considering their defeats to NEC and Twente in the opening weeks of the season.

It’s been a frustrating start overall to life back in the Dutch second tier for Robert Molenaar’s men, but they’ve responded well to those losses over the past fortnight or so.

Last week’s 0-1 success at Cambuurstadion showed that Roda are capable of mixing it with the sides at the top of the table, and the win also sealed their fourth successive clean sheet following a 0-1 victory at RKC, a 0-0 draw at home to FC Eindhoven and a 0-6 romp away to minnows DVS Ermelo in the KNVB Beker.

Roda are still in the hunt for Eerste Divisie’s only automatic promotion spot but they’ll need to maintain consistency over the coming weeks to stay in the chase.

The visit of Jong PSV this week certainly gives them a fine opportunity to make up further ground on the leaders – particularly as four of the top five face each other on match day eight.

Jong PSV could give Roda a real test here if they were able to replicate their best form from last term, but it just hasn’t happened so far this season for Dennis Haar’s charges.

5^th in 2017/18, Jong are currently 13^th in the table after winning just two of their opening seven fixtures, and their poor form outside of Eindhoven has been the key to their significant downturn.

Jong weren’t exactly brilliant on their travels last season having lost eight of their 19 league games, but so far this term they’ve claimed just one point from a possible 12, conceding 13 goals in the process.

That point came in a thrilling 4-4 draw at NEC on match day five, which was arguably their best performance in 2018/19 to date.

A 2-1 loss at Twente last weekend followed 3-1 and 4-1 away defeats to Jong Utrecht and FC Oss respectively, and that form just doesn’t stack up here against a Roda side who are on the up.

We think the hosts will be more than good enough to expose Jong’s defensive fragilities here and we’re backing them to land the spoils, with both teams getting on the scoresheet. Whilst Roda have been solid in defence of late, Jong have netted in all seven of their league games, so they should pinch at least one goal at Parkstad Limburg Stadion. It’s 3-1 to Roda JC for us in what should be an entertaining clash.