Roda JC vs AZ Reserves Predictions

One suspects that Roda JC have got going a little too late to be involved in the fight for automatic promotion, but they’ve been more than matching the Eerste Divisie principals in terms of quality in recent weeks.

After losing four of their first nine matches this term, Robert Molenaar’s side have only been bested twice in their last 12 outings, winning 50% those fixtures, and that’s seen them haul their way up to a credible 5^th place in the table as we head in match day 22.

With a six point cushion to 10^th placed RKC, Roda are comfortably in the Play-off places and they’ll no doubt be a team that the others want to avoid come the end of season knockout phase.

Roda have started to consistently demonstrate the class of a team that were plying their trade in Eredivisie in 2017/18, but last week’s 2-2 draw at Sparta Rotterdam was all about their battling qualities.

They were shell shocked in the opening minutes at Het Kasteel as Sparta raced into a 2-0 lead, but stuck to the task valiantly to gradually work their way back into the contest. In Mario Engels, they possess a real superstar striker for this level, and the outstanding German was at his lethal best again to notch a game saving double salvo.

So Roda clearly go into this week’s clash with Jong AZ in great spirits, and they’ll be desperate to put on a show at Parkstad Limburg Stadion after only managing a 1-1 draw in October’s reverse fixture in Alkmaar.

Jong have lost nine of their last 11 league matches so it’s no surprise that they’ve dropped to the foot of the table, and they look set for a battle to avoid the wooden spoon until the end of the season with Helmond Sport, Jong Utrecht and Dordrecht, who beat them 0-1 at AFAS Stadion on match day 21.

One positive for Jong is that they gained their first away success of the campaign against Jong Utrecht when last on the road a fortnight ago (1-3), but it would be a significant shock were they to replicate that result here against such a well-established name of Dutch football.

Roda have won four of their last five games at Parkstad Limburg Stadion including a brilliant 3-1 triumph over 3^rd placed Go Ahead Eagles two weeks ago, and if they ‘ll win at a canter here if they produce a performance anywhere near that standard.

Three of those four recent home victories have been by at least two goals, and we’re backing the hosts to cover a one goal handicap again here, with 3-0 our predicted scoreline.