Against All Odds: PSV to struggle at Utrecht

Phillip Cocu could be left disappointed today

It's early action from Holland for Paul Robinson today as he thinks that PSV will let down favourite backers against Utrecht.

Utrecht v PSV
Sunday October 26, 13:30 GMT
Live on Sky Sports 5

Utrecht are in 10th place in the Eredivisie after picking up 13 points from their opening nine fixtures. The recent international break came at a good time for the club as prior to it they had suffered three straight defeats - including one against this afternoon's opponents in the cup. They shrugged all of that off though with a 3-1 success at Dordrecht last week and Rob Alflen's side will be confident of getting a result on home soil.

The home form of Utrecht has always been good - just three defeats in the league last term - and they've carried on in the same vein this year as they've already beaten Willem II and Groningen at Stadion Galgenwaard, and drawn with ADO Den Haag. They were beaten by Go Ahead Eagles, but they were cruising at 2-0 in that game, before unexpectedly blowing up and losing 3-2. 

PSV had a poor campaign last time and, after a bad start, they could only finish in fourth place. The Dutch heavyweights have come flying out of the traps in 2014 though and seven wins from nine outings has them sitting pretty at the top of the division. A whopping 25 goals in the 'For' column is the best in the league, but perhaps more impressive than that is the fact that they've conceded just seven times at the other end.

Phillip Cocu's men had to play on Thursday night in the Europa League and that could prove a factor here. It's also worth noting that Eindhoven have lost their last three on the road in all competitions - firing blanks at both Heerenveen and Dinamo Moskva. 

The hosts usually treat their supporters to a decent performance and I can't see that changing today. That's why, with PSV trading at around the 1.84/5 mark, I have to make them my lay of the day.   

Recommended Bet
Lay PSV v Utrecht @ 1.84/5

2014 P/L (1pt each bet)

Wagered: 288 pts
Returned: 302.02 pts
P/L: + 14.02 pts (after commission)
(2013 P/L: + 3.80 pts)
(2012 P/L: + 9.60 pts)