+0.56 points a game is the venue form gap, in Derby County's favour: Derby County takes 1.48 a game at home over the last two seasons, Stoke City 0.92 away.
Derby County: 50 league matches in the bank, 10 from this season and the rest from last season. Stoke City: 50 league matches in the bank, 10 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
Derby County -- at home
Its record at the relevant venue
This season at home: won 0, drew 2, lost 3 of 5, scoring 4 and conceding 9. Last season at home: won 10, drew 5, lost 5 of 20, scoring 27 and conceding 20 -- 1.75 points a game.
Its last five league matches
Newest first: lost to Queens Park Rangers 1-4 away; drew with Wrexham 1-1 at home; drew with Burnley 1-1 away; lost to Birmingham City 1-2 at home; lost to West Bromwich Albion 0-1 at home.
The dugout
Every one of the 36 banked matches with a manager recorded was taken by John Eustace. Who picks the team today is not yet recorded this season, so a summer change of manager would not show in these figures.
Stoke City -- away
Its record at the relevant venue
This season away: won 2, drew 1, lost 2 of 5, scoring 7 and conceding 10. Last season away: won 4, drew 4, lost 12 of 20, scoring 12 and conceding 26 -- 0.80 points a game.
Its last five league matches
Newest first: lost to Middlesbrough 2-3 at home; beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 away; beat Sheffield United 2-1 at home; beat Watford 2-1 away; drew with Cardiff City 1-1 away.
The dugout
Every one of the 35 banked matches with a manager recorded was taken by Mark Robins. Who picks the team today is not yet recorded this season, so a summer change of manager would not show in these figures.
Built 07:05 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.