Helmond Sport vs FC Dordrecht Predictions

Based on the league positions of these sides and the drab goalless stalemate between the pair on match day one, this Friday’s fixture at Lavans Stadion hardly sets the pulse racing for fans of the Dutch second tier. Nonetheless, a decent punting opportunity may be lurking, with visitors Dordrecht seeking to build on their hard fought 3-3 draw against defending champions Jong Ajax last week.

Little was expected of these two teams at the start of the campaign, but Dordrecht will definitely be the more frustrated at how their season has panned out after snatching a Play-off place in 2017/18.

Schappenkoppen began in woeful fashion to lose six of their opening seven games; and after picking up just one win from their first 15 starts, then boss Gerard De Nooijer was swiftly shown the exit door.

Experienced Portuguese coach Claudio Braga is now the man in charge following a brief caretaker stint from Scott Calderwood, and Dordrecht’s results and performances have gradually been on the up in recent weeks.

Schappenkoppen have managed to earn two wins and two draws from their last eight fixtures, and aside from a 2-6 mauling at home to 2^nd placed Den Bosch at the turn of the year, Dordrecht have largely been competitive since De Nooijer departed.

They’re still in the bottom three and unlikely to finish any higher than 17^th this term with 16^th placed Telstar holding a ten point advantage over them, but the club can focus on rebuilding and leaving themselves in better shape to begin the 2019/20 campaign.

They fought back from two goals down in a thriller at Riwal Hoogwerkers Stadion last Friday to draw 3-3 with reigning champions Jong Ajax, and that puts them in a good place going into this week’s fixture at Lavans Stadion.

Hosts Helmond Sport are a point behind Dordrecht in 19^th after an equally poor season, and their task from here on in will be to similarly finish best of the bottom four and improve upon their 18^th placed effort in 2017/18.

They have one less victory to their name than their opponents this term, but both of those successes came at Lavans Stadion, including a memorable 3-0 triumph over 4^th placed Sparta Rotterdam at the end of November.

Nonetheless, Sport have lost their last three on the spin in the league, and they’ve succumbed to heavy beatings in the last fortnight against MVV (3-0) and Twente (4-1).

Those results will have severely dented the confidence of Rob Alflen’s side heading into match day 24, and with the pressure on them as the home side to come out best in this basement scrap, we’re happy to take them on.

Dordrecht have won just once from 11 outings on the road this term, but they’re worth a punt with minimal stakes here based on their progress of late and the fact they won 1-2 here last season. If August’s reverse clash is anything to go by, the action should be pretty dull, so we’re also opting for a 0-1 correct score in Schappenkoppen’s favour.