Helmond Sport vs Ajax Reserves Predictions

It’s been a hugely disappointing season for reigning Eerste Divisie champions Jong Ajax, but Michael Reiziger’s side sank to new depths on Monday night. Jong were battered 0-6 by Cambuur at Sportpark De Toekomst following a horrendous display, and they have now dropped to 12^th in the table with six games remaining. Reiziger’s young charges will hope to turn things around this Friday, when they face second bottom Helmond Sport who were beaten 3-0 by Almere City on match day 32.

Jong Ajax’s recent form and campaign overall has to be a concern for the senior side – after all the placement of reserve teams in the second tier offers the giants of Dutch football an opportunity to blood their young players and give them game time at a fairly decent level.

Jong Ajax won the title last term but have really failed to shine this time around, and they currently sit seven places and eight points behind counterparts Jong PSV who have been by far the strongest and most consistent reserve outfit in the league this season.

Their disappointing title defence has largely been down to their poor record on the road (W5, D3, L8) although they had generally been performing well in Amsterdam prior to last Monday with eight wins, four draws and just three defeats posted from 15 outings.

That’s why the bookmakers had Jong priced up as favourites at around 3/10 to beat Cambuur at Sportpark De Toekomst on match day 32, but a combination of Cambuur’s brilliance and Jong’s ineptness made a complete mockery of those odds.

The Leeuwarden outfit walked all over Jong to secure the easiest victory you could wish to see in Eerste Divisie, and simply cantered through the second half having raced into a 0-5 advantage at the break.

Jong have now won just one of their last six, and it is nigh on impossible to touch them in the betting for this Friday’s contest against Helmond Sport – despite how poor the hosts usually are.

Sport have won just one of their last 13 league outings, losing ten, and they were stuffed 3-0 by Almere City at Yanmar Stadion on Monday to take their away record this term to five draws and eleven defeats from 16.

Fortunately for Sport, that one victory in 13 came just a few days ago via a surprise 4-0 romp over Roda JC at Lavans Stadion, and a repeat of that performance here would give them a real chance of winning again.

It’s obviously extremely disappointing that Rob Alflen’s side couldn’t in any way back up that result against City on Monday, but a return to home comforts here could see them put their best foot forward again.

It’s worth remembering that Sport also held 3^rd placed Go Ahead Eagles to a 1-1 draw two starts ago in Helmond, so a small stakes wager on the hosts is the way to go in this one with a 2-1 scoreline forecasted.