+1.03 points a game is the venue form gap, in Cardiff City's favour: Cardiff City takes 2.24 a game at home over the last two seasons, West Ham United 1.21 away.
Cardiff City: 50 league matches in the bank, 13 from this season and the rest from last season in the League One. West Ham United: 50 league matches in the bank, 13 from this season and the rest from last season in the Premier League.
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
Cardiff City -- at home
Its record at the relevant venue
This season at home: won 3, drew 3, lost 0 of 6, scoring 13 and conceding 6. Last season at home in the League One: won 14, drew 2, lost 3 of 19, scoring 40 and conceding 19 -- 2.32 points a game.
Its last five league matches
Newest first: lost to Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-3 away; beat Birmingham City 1-0 at home; drew with Middlesbrough 2-2 away; beat Watford 5-1 at home; lost to Blackburn Rovers 1-2 away.
The dugout
Every one of the 22 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.
West Ham United -- away
Its record at the relevant venue
This season away: won 3, drew 3, lost 0 of 6, scoring 15 and conceding 7. Last season away in the Premier League: won 4, drew 5, lost 9 of 18, scoring 19 and conceding 32 -- 0.94 points a game.
Its last five league matches
Newest first: lost to West Bromwich Albion 1-3 at home; lost to Southampton 2-3 at home; beat Swansea City 1-0 away; beat Lincoln City 6-0 away; drew with Queens Park Rangers 1-1 at home.
The dugout
The banked record belongs to the club, not one man: 2 different managers took its 50 matches with one recorded (46, 4 apiece), most recently Nuno Herlander Simões Espírito Santo with 46. Who picks the team today is not yet recorded this season, so a summer change of manager would not show in these figures.
Built 22:02 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.