-0.42 points a game is the venue form gap, in Sheffield United's favour: Preston North End takes 1.00 a game at home over the last two seasons, Sheffield United 1.42 away.
Preston North End: 50 league matches in the bank, 13 from this season and the rest from last season. Sheffield United: 50 league matches in the bank, 13 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
Preston North End -- at home
Its record at the relevant venue
This season at home: won 1, drew 1, lost 4 of 6, scoring 5 and conceding 10. Last season at home: won 5, drew 5, lost 8 of 18, scoring 21 and conceding 27 -- 1.11 points a game.
Its last five league matches
Newest first: lost to Stoke City 0-2 away; drew with West Bromwich Albion 1-1 at home; lost to Wrexham 1-4 away; lost to Birmingham City 0-4 away; lost to Millwall 0-1 at home.
The dugout
The banked record belongs to the club, not one man: 2 different managers took its 33 matches with one recorded (29, 4 apiece), most recently Graham Alexander with 4. Who picks the team today is not yet recorded this season, so a summer change of manager would not show in these figures.
Sheffield United -- away
Its record at the relevant venue
This season away: won 2, drew 2, lost 2 of 6, scoring 8 and conceding 8. Last season away: won 8, drew 2, lost 8 of 18, scoring 27 and conceding 25 -- 1.44 points a game.
Its last five league matches
Newest first: beat Wrexham 1-0 at home; drew with Derby County 1-1 at home; beat Bristol City 1-0 away; lost to Portsmouth 2-3 away; beat Lincoln City 3-0 at home.
The dugout
Every one of the 35 banked matches with a manager recorded was taken by Chris Wilder. Who picks the team today is not yet recorded this season, so a summer change of manager would not show in these figures.
Built 10:31 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.