After drawing with Excelsior in the final game before the international break, Ajax once again dropped points on Saturday night against NEC Nijmegen.

Tolu Arokodare returned to the starting lineup and put Ajax ahead within 10 minutes with an impressive header. The Nigerian striker has been excellent so far this season and now has seven goals in all competitions.

NEC Nijmegen earned a penalty just before the 20th minute, and Tjaronn Chery made no mistake from the spot to make it 1-1.

Ajax had 61% possession and registered 1,78 xG (expected goals), compared to NEC Nijmegen's 1,05. Similar to the game against Excelsior, Ajax created several good chances but failed to find the winner.

Ajax have registered an xG of 4,29 in the last two games, but only have three goals to show for it.

Despite drawing with Excelsior, Ajax were completely dominant in that game, and it felt like they were starting to build momentum, having also beaten Fortuna Sittard and Willem II 5-1. However, Michel Sanchez's side failed to build on that against NEC Nijmegen.

Speaking to ESPN after the draw against NEC Nijmegen, Tolu explained why he believes Ajax failed to get the win over the line.

"The reason is that we didn't score more," Tolu explained.

"We weren't clinical enough. We only scored one goal, and that is the reason.

"We had the chances, but we didn't take them. We were punished for it."

If Ajax are going to win the Eredivisie title, they need to improve their form at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.

Ajax have only taken three points from the home games against SC Heerenveen, Excelsior and an NEC Nijmegen team that is out of form. Ajax could have, and probably should have, taken the full nine points from those three games.

So far in the Eredivisie this season, the Amsterdammers have won just one out of five home games, which was the 5-1 win over Willem II. The draw against Heerenveen was particularly disappointing, given Ajax led that game 2-0.

Ajax are now five points behind Feyenoord and four points behind PSV Eindhoven. There is still a long way to go in the season, and Ajax can turn the situation around, but they need to start winning games like the ones against NEC Nijmegen and Excelsior.

Ajax have five games between now and the end of October, and now prepares to travel to Croatia to face Hajduk Split in their first league phase game of the UEFA Conference League.

It is of the utmost importance that Ajax start to build momentum over the coming games to lay the foundation for a successful remainder of the season.