Only three days after the victory over Helmond Sport, FC Emmen faces the next hurdle on the way to the dream promotion on Monday evening. Is the battery charged enough to lead Jong PSV, number fifteen in the rankings, to the victory cart?
Players and staff of FC Emmen were overjoyed and proud on Friday evening after the victory over Helmond Sport. With a lot of struggle and sometimes some trickery, the important eighth victory of the season was achieved. An excellent result, especially considering the red card that Julius Dirksen received early in the second half. The defender said afterwards that he felt as if his teammates had fought for him. “Pure profit,” said Dirksen. “Not just the three points, but especially how we performed as a team.”
Trainer Fred Grim also looked back with satisfaction on the battle in Helmond. Although the Amsterdammer did add a clear comment. “We controlled the game in the first half,” said Grim. “We started very well, imposed our will on the opponent and intercepted many balls in their half. Moreover, we scored great goals and had opportunities to score the third. But we still made it unnecessarily exciting. I also said that to the boys after the match.”
History is in favor of FC Emmen
Just three days after the victory in North Brabant, FC Emmen will take on Jong PSV at home. The Drenthe club has now been undefeated for five league matches in a row and has risen to third place. Behind Willem II and Roda JC and having played one match less. FC Emmen undoubtedly wants to continue this upward trend. However, the question is how much energy the match against Helmond Sport cost and to what extent the battery has been recharged since then.
In any case, history speaks in favor of the home team. Six times before they played against Jong PSV at De Oude Meerdijk and only lost once. That was the first time, in 2013 (0-2). The other matches ended in wins three times and a draw twice. The last meeting between the two teams in Emmen dates from November 19, 2021. Thanks to goals from Reda Kharchouch and Rui Mendes, who was in top form at the time, FC Emmen took full advantage.
Dennis Vos in the starting line-up against his old team?
Interesting detail: during that last meeting, Dennis Vos wore the captain’s armband on behalf of the Eindhoven team. The youngster has now been under contract in Emmen for some time. This season he is mainly on the bench, but against his old employer it seems likely that Vos will be given a starting place by his trainer. Julius Dirksen, usually the undisputed number one on the left in the heart of the defense, has to watch from the stands due to his two yellow cards against Helmond Sport.
One man’s death is another man’s bread, the saying goes. Against the talents from Eindhoven, this applies not only to Dirksen and Vos, but possibly also to Lorenzo Burnet and Jeff Hardeveld. Burnet had to miss the match against Helmond Sport due to illness. It is unknown whether he will be there against Jong PSV. If not, Jeff Hardeveld will be preferred as left back for the second game in a row. In any case, it is clear that Chardi Landu is still unavailable due to an injury.