+0.36 points a game is the venue form gap, in Portsmouth's favour: Portsmouth takes 1.44 a game at home over the last two seasons, Stoke City 1.08 away.
Portsmouth: 50 league matches in the bank, 14 from this season and the rest from last season. Stoke City: 50 league matches in the bank, 14 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
Portsmouth -- at home
Its record at the relevant venue
This season at home: won 4, drew 1, lost 2 of 7, scoring 13 and conceding 11. Last season at home: won 6, drew 5, lost 7 of 18, scoring 20 and conceding 17 -- 1.28 points a game.
Its last five league matches
Newest first: beat Swansea City 3-1 at home; drew with Burnley 0-0 away; beat Millwall 2-1 at home; drew with Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 away; beat Norwich City 1-0 away.
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.
Stoke City -- away
Its record at the relevant venue
This season away: won 4, drew 1, lost 2 of 7, scoring 10 and conceding 11. Last season away: won 4, drew 2, lost 12 of 18, scoring 11 and conceding 25 -- 0.78 points a game.
Its last five league matches
Newest first: beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 away; beat Preston North End 2-0 at home; drew with Bristol City 0-0 at home; beat Derby County 1-0 away; lost to Middlesbrough 2-3 at home.
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 10:03 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.