+0.44 points a game is the venue form gap, in Norwich City's favour: Norwich City takes 1.44 a game at home over the last two seasons, Portsmouth 1.00 away.
Norwich City: 50 league matches in the bank, 10 from this season and the rest from last season. Portsmouth: 50 league matches in the bank, 9 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
Norwich City -- at home
Its record at the relevant venue
This season at home: won 2, drew 0, lost 3 of 5, scoring 10 and conceding 9. Last season at home: won 9, drew 3, lost 8 of 20, scoring 23 and conceding 21 -- 1.50 points a game.
Its last five league matches
Newest first: lost to Southampton 0-1 at home; lost to Swansea City 1-2 away; lost to Bolton Wanderers 3-4 at home; lost to Middlesbrough 3-4 away; beat Birmingham City 2-1 at home.
The dugout
The banked record belongs to the club, not one man: 2 different managers took its 33 matches with one recorded (24, 9 apiece), most recently Philippe Clement with 24. Who picks the team today is not yet recorded this season, so a summer change of manager would not show in these figures.
Portsmouth -- away
Its record at the relevant venue
This season away: won 1, drew 1, lost 2 of 4, scoring 4 and conceding 4. Last season away: won 5, drew 5, lost 10 of 20, scoring 22 and conceding 40 -- 1.00 points a game.
Its last five league matches
Newest first: beat Sheffield United 3-2 at home; lost to Southampton 0-1 away; drew with Blackburn Rovers 2-2 at home; drew with Charlton Athletic 0-0 away; beat Cardiff City 2-0 at home.
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.
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.