Oxford United is new to this division, so the rank comparison rests on less than a shared season. Against the block the other keeps: Oxford United takes 1.12 points a game, Stockport County 1.25 -- nothing between them.
Oxford United: 50 league matches in the bank, 10 from this season and the rest from last season in the Championship. Stockport County: 50 league matches in the bank, 12 from this season and the rest from last season.
The question this step asks
Step one is THE TABLE: rank against rank, and the blocks -- the table cut into a top, middle and bottom block, drawn from last season's final standings. The question is not just where each side stands but how it behaves against the company the other keeps: does it play to rank against the blocks above and below, or come apart?
The two sides
Oxford United -- at home
Where it stands
Stands 7th of 24 after 10 games, with 19 points. It was not in this division last season -- it came down from the Championship, where it finished 23rd of 24.
Its block
New to the division this season, so it takes no block from last season's final table.
Against today's opponent's block
Today it faces a side from the top block (1st to 8th). Against that block it has won 4, drew 6, lost 6 of 16 -- 18 points of 48. At home against them: won 3 of 8. Away against them: won 1 of 8.
Across all the blocks
Across the blocks, over the last two seasons: against the top block won 4, drew 6, lost 6 of 16 (1.12 a game); against the middle block won 3, drew 5, lost 9 of 17 (0.82 a game); against the bottom block won 6, drew 3, lost 4 of 13 (1.62 a game); against sides new to the division won 2, drew 2, lost 0 of 4 (2.00 a game).
Stockport County -- away
Where it stands
Stands 2nd of 24 after 12 games, with 23 points. Last season it finished 4th of 24 in this division.
Its block
By last season's final table it sits in the top block (1st to 8th). Blocks are drawn from last season because the current table is only 12 games old.
Against today's opponent's block
Today it faces a side new to its division. Against that block it has won 1, drew 2, lost 1 of 4 -- 5 points of 12. At home against them: won 1 of 2. Away against them: won 0 of 2.
Across all the blocks
Across the blocks, over the last two seasons: against the top block won 4, drew 3, lost 8 of 15 (1.00 a game); against the middle block won 13, drew 1, lost 3 of 17 (2.35 a game); against the bottom block won 8, drew 3, lost 3 of 14 (1.93 a game); against sides new to the division won 1, drew 2, lost 1 of 4 (1.25 a game).
Built 13:05 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.