Preview:PEC Zwolle vs. Go Ahead Eagles - prediction, team news, lineups

PEC Zwolle play host to Go Ahead Eagles at the Mac3Park Stadion on Sunday seeking to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat.

Meanwhile, the visitors make the journey in search of back to back Eredivisie victories for the first time since October.

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Match preview

PEC Zwolle were left empty-handed for the second game running following a 1-0 defeat against FC Twente at the Grolsch Veste Stadium two Saturdays ago.

Daan Rots's 19th-minute strike proved to be the difference in Enschede as Dick Schreuder's men failed to get on the scoresheet once again.

The Blauwvingers remain rooted to the foot of the Eredivisie table, but there is plenty of time to make up a three-point gap from safety with seven games left to play.

Next up for Zwolle is the challenge of an opposing side against whom they have recorded mixed results of late, as the last 10 meetings have yielded four wins apiece for either team and two stalemates.

With daunting tasks against AZ Alkmaar, Ajax and PSV Eindhoven still to come, Sunday's hosts will be keen to pick up a crucial win this weekend ahead of a tough run of matches.

Go Ahead Eagles breezed past fellow newcomers Cambuur in a comfortable 3-0 victory at De Adelaarshorst on March 19.

First-half strikes from Joris Kramer and Luuk Brouwers put Kees Van Wonderen's men in cruise control before Mats Deijl put the result beyond doubt 13 minutes from time.

As a result, the Pride of the IJssel Kowet have moved up to 12th place in the standings, three points off the top half in what has been a decent season back in the top tier of Dutch football.

Having won just two of 13 Eredivisie matches on their travels this term, Sunday's visitors will need to get going away from home as they go in search of a first league victory on the road since November.

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Team News

Oussama Darfalou pulled up with a muscle injury half an hour into Zwolle's defeat to Feyenoord three weeks ago, and the Algerian is yet to feature since then.

The duo of Samir Lagsir and Sam Kersten will not play any part for the home side as they both remain sidelined with knee injuries.

Dean Huiberts continues to nurse an ankle problem, but the midfielder is not far off a return to action after missing the last six matches.

Go Ahead Eagles' Luuk Brouwers has been directly involved in five goals in his last eight games, and the 23-year-old is one to keep an eye on.

Giannis-Fivos Botos will be looking to come up trumps for his side once again after scoring the winner in September's reverse fixture.

PEC Zwolle possible starting lineup:

Lamprou; Van der Werff, Van Polen, Anderson; De Wit, Saymak, Paal, Van den Belt, Van Wermeskerken; Clement, Redan

Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:

Noppert; Martina, Nauber, Kramer, Kuipers; Rommens, Brouwers, Cordoba; Deijl, Lidberg, Oratmangoen

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We say: PEC Zwolle 2-1 Go Ahead Eagles

The hosts have been hard to beat on home turf of late with Feyenoord the only visiting team to have beaten them since the turn of the year. We are backing Zwolle to emerge victorious at the sound of the full-time whistle in this one.