The bottom two sides in the Eredivisie table will square off on Friday, as FC Volendam entertain FC Utrecht at the Kras Stadion.
The hosts find themselves rooted to the foot of the division with just a single point on the board from six outings, while their visitors are two points better off under the new management of Ron Jans and head into the trip on the back of consecutive defeats of their own.
Match preview
After finishing 14th in their first Eredivisie season in 13 years last time around, eight points clear of the bottom three, FC Volendam headed into the new term with the aim of again maintaining their top-flight status, but they have endured a particularly difficult start and head into the seventh round of league games without a victory on the board.
Under the new management of Matthias Kohler, Het Andere Oranjebegan with three consecutive defeats prior to the first international break in September, losing to Vitesse, Go Ahead Eagles and FC Twente and conceding eight goals along the way while only scoring twice.
Their struggles continued on the return to action in mid-September, as Kohler's men fell to a 3-1 defeat away at Fortuna Sittard before putting their first point on the board at the fifth time of asking in a 2-2 draw at home to Heracles, having come from two goals down to take a share of the spoils through Benaissa Benamar and Robert Muhren, with the leveller coming three minutes from time.
In their bid to build on that first draw and put an improved run together, Het Andere Oranjebegan faced the unenviable test of a trip to early leaders PSV Eindhoven last weekend, and they were unable to halt the hosts' perfect start to the campaign, eventually succumbing to a 3-1 defeat at the Philips Stadion, having initially gone 2-0 down and halved the deficit through Calvin Twigt, only for Malik Tillman to put the game out of sight in injury time.
Still with positives to take from that display away at the leaders, albeit in what has been a dismal opening run, Volendam will return to the Kras Stadion on Friday with the aim of putting their first league win of the campaign on the board at the seventh attempt to leapfrog their visitors.
Their opponents are similarly fighting to put a tough start behind them, with FC Utrecht having played seven Eredivisie games so far this season and suffered six defeats.
Like Friday's hosts, the Domstedelingen went into the international break without a point on the board, as their top-flight campaign began with defeats to PSV Eindhoven, Heerenveen, PEC Zwolle and Feyenoord.
After the first three of those, manager Michael Silberbauer was dismissed and Rob Penders led them into the latter before Ron Jans was appointed over the international break, bringing about an instant impact as they returned to action with a first victory of the season under their new boss, defeating Heracles 3-1 away from home thanks to first-half finishes from Ole Romeny and Victor Jensen and a late Navajo Bakboord own goal.
Utrecht have been unable to build on that result and continue a positive start under Jans since, though, and they now head into Friday's trip on the back of two more defeats, firstly losing 3-0 away at NEC before most recently suffering a 2-0 loss at home to fellow strugglers Almere City last Saturday, as Thomas Robinet and Rajiv van la Parra netted goals in the final 10 minutes to seal a first win of the season for their visitors.
That result saw the Domstedelingen drop back below Almere and into the relegation zone, and they will now be desperate to correct their form with a victory on their travels as they bid to quickly move clear of the bottom end of the division after the concerning start.
Team News
Volendam head into Friday's contest without centre-back Benaissa Benamar, who will serve a one-match suspension after being sent off late on in their defeat to PSV Eindhoven last time out.
They may opt to switch back to a back four anyway after taking extra precautions for the weekend's difficult test, with Damon Mirani and Josh Flint set to partner up in the middle of the defence, while Calvin Twigt and Milan de Haan will both keep their places in the engine room.
In place of the extra defender, Joey Antonioli could return in an advanced midfield role, while Bilal Ould-Chikh and Newcastle United loanee Garang Kuol should again line up on the wings in support of veteran forward Robert Muhren, who has netted two goals in four league appearances so far this term.
FC Utrecht also have to account for a suspension on Friday, with winger Hugo Novoa having been sent off last time out after coming off the bench against Almere City.
They have several ongoing injury issues to contend with too, as Taylor Booth, Zidane Iqbal, Jens Toornstra and Mike van der Hoorn remain confined to the treatment room.
Mats Seuntjens could again lead the line in a 4-3-3 shape, albeit with pressure growing having not yet scored in his seven appearances this term, while fellow summer arrival Can Bozdogan has been a mainstay in midfield and will continue to play a key role, likely alongside Victor Jensen and Oscar Luigi Fraulo.
FC Volendam possible starting lineup:
Backhaus; Plat, Mirani, Flint, Payne; De Haan, Twigt; Ould-Chikh, Antonioli, Kuol; Muhren
FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Barkas; Ter Avest, Flamingo, Sagnan, Viergever; Jensen, Bozdogan, Fraulo; Romeny, Seuntjens, Boussaid
We say: FC Volendam 1-1 FC Utrecht
Both sides are devoid of confidence heading into the weekend, and we cannot see one outclassing the other, instead opting for a low-scoring draw between teams who are yet to find any winning formula this term.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Sam Varley
