Two sides at the bottom end of the Eredivisie table will meet on Saturday, as PEC Zwolle play host to RKC Waalwijk.
The hosts currently sit at the foot of the division with just four points from the opening 13 games, while the visitors occupy 15th spot, just one point above the bottom three.
Match preview
PEC Zwolle have been rooted to the foot of the Eredivisie table for almost the entirety of the campaign so far, having started by collecting just one point from the opening nine outings.
They finally managed to put a victory on the board at the 10th time of asking, as Bram van Polen converted a 92nd-minute penalty to snatch all three points in a 1-0 win at home to fellow strugglers Sparta Rotterdam.
The Blauwvingers were unable to build on that though, and they now head into Saturday in a run of three straight league defeats, firstly losing to AZ Alkmaar and newly-promoted Cambuur.
That triggered a change in management, but Dick Schreuder's first game at the helm did not bring about the desired change, as they were thrashed 4-0 by Feyenoord last time out with Brian Linssen hitting an early brace alongside first-half goals from Luis Sinisterra and Guus Til.
The new boss will now hope to oversee a major turn in fortunes, with Saturday potentially presenting a good opportunity to pick up points against another side at the wrong end of the table.
RKC Waalwijk also arrive on the back of a thrashing and a three-game winless run, having quickly dropped to 15th after taking their tally to 10 points from 10 games by defeating Sparta Rotterdam 1-0.
That was followed by a defeat to Cambuur, before they played out a 1-1 draw away at Groningen, with Jorgen Strand Larsen drawing the hosts level late on to deny RKC all three points.
Joseph Oosting's side then met league leaders Ajax last time out, and they were handed a 5-0 thrashing as Sebastien Haller and Steven Berghuis netted braces alongside a Jurrien Timber goal.
As a result, RKC now head into the game in 15th place with just a one-point lead over the relegation playoff place and a two-point gap between themselves and the bottom two, meaning they will be keen to avoid a defeat to the basement side and widen the gap between themselves and the threat of the drop.
- L
- L
- W
- L
- L
- L
- L
- W
- W
- L
- L
- L
- D
- D
- W
- L
- D
- L
- D
- W
- W
- L
- D
- L
Team News
PEC Zwolle should again remain without Sai van Wermeskerken and Pelle Clement, as the pair continue to battle through injury issues.
They will likely make several changes after the thrashing last time out, with the likes of Mustafa Saymak, Slobodan Tedic and Rav van den Berg at risk of dropping out.
Luka Adzic should continue to operate in the attack, while Gervane Kastaneer will push for a starting spot after he was reduced to a substitute appearance last time out.
RKC Waalwijk have injuries of their own to contend with, as Richard van der Venne, David Min and Joel Pereira are all sidelined, while former Manchester United full-back Alexander Buttner was also absent last time out.
Michiel Kramer will continue to lead the line, having hit five goals in 13 league appearances so far this campaign.
PEC Zwolle possible starting lineup:
Lamprou; Pabai, Kersten, Polen, Nakayama; Strieder, Huiberts, Reijnders; Adzic, Redan, Kastaneer
RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:
Vaessen; Meulensteen, Touba, Adewoye; Gaari, Anita, Odgaard, Wouters; Bakari, Kramer, Daneels
We say: PEC Zwolle 1-1 RKC Waalwijk
In a battle between two struggling sides desperate for a result, we see a cagey encounter taking place in Zwolle and cannot quite pick a winner.
Schreuder will hope to earn a positive result in his second game at the helm, but he may have to settle for a point against a side equally keen to improve their position at the bottom end of the table.
Top tip
body check tags ::
Previews by email
