Over the last five matches in the Eredivisie, only PSV have been better than Ron Jan’s FC Utrecht. The Domstedelingen (Cathedral Citizens) have not lost a single game in the league since the turn of the year. They have picked up 13 points from five matches, with four wins and a draw. This record is identical to that of league leaders PSV.
Former Twente head coach Ron Jans took over at Utrecht in the summer and, thanks to their recent good form, has them sitting in eight place. They are by no means guaranteed of a spot in the European play-offs, but their current run means they are the most inform side of those chasing the top eight finish.
After their 4-2 win over relegation threatened Volendam to start February, the side have not conceded a goal. They have beaten Fortuna Sittard 4-0, Jans’ old side Twente 1-0 away from home and Heracles at the weekend 1-0 at home. Next up they face a struggling Ajax, who they can begin to put pressure on. If they manage to win in Amsterdam, they will close the gap to their opponents to just one point.
Despite their success, they have struggled to find a regular goal scorer. Victor Jensen leads the side with five, while Taylor Booth also have five, although these all game in the space of a week during the victories over Volendam and Sittard. Taylor is set to miss some time with injury, meaning others will need to step up.
There is certainly pressure on the team to keep up this good run of form .The 2014/2015 was the last time they finished outside of the top seven. Following the clash with Ajax, they face both NEC Nijmegen and PEC Zwolle either side of Almere City and Feyenoord. Winning these games against fellow top eight chasers will go a long way to helping them cement their position.
GBeNeFNÂ |Â Ben Jackson
