+0.88 points a game is the venue form gap, in Lincoln City's favour: Lincoln City takes 2.36 a game at home over the last two seasons, Southampton 1.48 away.
Lincoln City: 50 league matches in the bank, 4 from this season and the rest from last season in the League One. Southampton: 50 league matches in the bank, 4 from this season and the rest from last season.
The question this step asks
Step two is HOME AND AWAY FORM -- the home side judged on its home record, the away side on its away record, because those are the records that will be on the pitch. The last five reach back into last season where this season is too young to answer, and say so.
The two sides
Lincoln City -- at home
Its record at the relevant venue
This season at home: won 0, drew 1, lost 1 of 2, scoring 1 and conceding 3. Last season at home in the League One: won 18, drew 4, lost 1 of 23, scoring 53 and conceding 20 -- 2.52 points a game.
Its last five league matches
Newest first: drew with Blackburn Rovers 0-0 at home; beat Bolton Wanderers 1-0 away; lost to Portsmouth 1-3 at home; lost to Middlesbrough 1-2 away; beat Port Vale 2-0 away in the League One. The last of these is from last season.
The dugout
Every one of the 20 banked matches with a manager recorded was taken by Michael Skubala. Who picks the team today is not yet recorded this season, so a summer change of manager would not show in these figures.
Southampton -- away
Its record at the relevant venue
This season away: won 0, drew 1, lost 1 of 2, scoring 2 and conceding 3. Last season away: won 10, drew 6, lost 7 of 23, scoring 43 and conceding 36 -- 1.57 points a game.
Its last five league matches
Newest first: drew with Birmingham City 1-1 away; beat Millwall 5-1 at home; beat Stoke City 3-1 at home; lost to Watford 1-2 away; beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at home. The last of these is from last season.
The dugout
Every one of the 11 banked matches with a manager recorded was taken by William Still. Who picks the team today is not yet recorded this season, so a summer change of manager would not show in these figures.
Built 06:38 from matches completed before
kick-off. Every figure is an observed count with its denominator —
not a forecast, and nothing here is a tip or a selection.