-0.36 points a game is the venue form gap, in Cardiff City's favour: Portsmouth takes 1.20 a game at home over the last two seasons, Cardiff City 1.56 away.
Portsmouth: 50 league matches in the bank, 4 from this season and the rest from last season. Cardiff City: 50 league matches in the bank, 4 from this season and the rest from last season in the League One.
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
Portsmouth -- at home
Its record at the relevant venue
This season at home: won 0, drew 0, lost 2 of 2, scoring 1 and conceding 5. Last season at home: won 8, drew 6, lost 9 of 23, scoring 25 and conceding 23 -- 1.30 points a game.
Its last five league matches
Newest first: lost to Derby County 0-2 at home; lost to Bristol City 1-2 away; beat Lincoln City 3-1 away; lost to Queens Park Rangers 1-3 at home; drew with Birmingham City 1-1 at home. The last of these is from last season.
The dugout
Every one of the 33 banked matches with a manager recorded was taken by John Mousinho. Who picks the team today is not yet recorded this season, so a summer change of manager would not show in these figures.
Cardiff City -- away
Its record at the relevant venue
This season away: won 0, drew 1, lost 1 of 2, scoring 3 and conceding 4. Last season away in the League One: won 10, drew 8, lost 5 of 23, scoring 40 and conceding 27 -- 1.65 points a game.
Its last five league matches
Newest first: lost to Queens Park Rangers 1-2 away; drew with Sheffield United 2-2 at home; drew with Derby County 2-2 away; drew with Wrexham 1-1 at home; lost to Mansfield Town 4-5 away in the League One. The last of these is from last season.
The dugout
Every one of the 21 banked matches with a manager recorded was taken by Brian Barry-Murphy. Who picks the team today is not yet recorded this season, so a summer change of manager would not show in these figures.
Built 06:39 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.