FC Utrecht Reserves vs Go Ahead Eagles Predictions

Go Ahead Eagles’ stuttering start to 2019 continued with a 0-1 reverse at home to FC Eindhoven last week, and John Stegeman’s side suddenly find themselves ten points off the Eerste Divisie pace after leaders Twente notched their eighth straight victory on Friday. A win this Monday for Eagles cuts the gap between the teams back to seven, and nothing less will do for the visitors if they’re to retain hopes of lifting the title at the end of the campaign.

Go Ahead are undoubtedly going through their worst spell of the campaign, and it’s come at a time when Twente have really been pouring it on.

Eagles were several points in front of their rivals just a couple of months ago, but there has been a massive swing following Twente’s eight match winning streak and Go Ahead’s meagre tally of just 11 points collected from their last nine outings.

Eagles can’t afford any further slip-ups if they’re to get back into the mix, and they’ll be grateful for weaker opposition this week in the shape of Jong Utrecht, as they aim to return to winning ways.

Go Ahead gave Jong Utrecht a 5-0 pasting at De Adelaarshorst in August; one of eight victories from 12 games that they’ve bagged on home turf this term.

Eagles has been rather less impressive on their travels with four defeats suffered on the road from 11 outings, but the bookies make them strong favourites here to enhance their away record.

It’s pretty easy to see why, with the host’s on a run of six consecutive defeats, and they were readily brushed aside by an average NEC outfit 4-1 on match day 23.

With just three wins to their name all season, Jong are currently 19^th in the table and on level points with bottom side Helmond Sport. After bringing up the rear in 2017/18, the main aim now for Robin Pronk’s men is to avoid picking up the wooden spoon again this time around.

So despite having plenty to prove at present, Eagles are priced up correctly here at around the 1/2 mark. We fancy Stegeman’s side to make light work of things at Sportpark De Westmaat, but their match odds alone do little to whet the appetite.

The obvious angle in here then is to back an away win with both teams to score. Jong have hit the net in nine of their 11 home games this term, whilst Eagles have kept just two clean sheets in their 11 away fixtures.

This looks a really solid wager at just a shade under 2/1 and well worth a two point stake. Monday’s contest provides Eagles with a real chance to boost their confidence and they should get ample opportunities in front of goal, with Jong conceding at a rate of two goals per game. We think the visitors will go one better though in that respect, and 1-3 is our correct score prediction.