+1.12 points a game is the venue form gap, in Salford City's favour: Salford City takes 1.96 a game at home over the last two seasons, Port Vale 0.84 away.
Salford City: 50 league matches in the bank, 4 from this season and the rest from last season. Port Vale: 50 league matches in the bank, 4 from this season and the rest from last season in the League One.
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
Salford City -- at home
Its record at the relevant venue
This season at home: won 1, drew 0, lost 1 of 2, scoring 2 and conceding 2. Last season at home: won 13, drew 5, lost 4 of 22, scoring 33 and conceding 22 -- 2.00 points a game.
Its last five league matches
Newest first: beat Newport County 2-1 at home; lost to Shrewsbury Town 0-1 away; lost to Chesterfield 0-1 at home; lost to Barnet 1-3 away; lost to Notts County 0-3 away. The last of these is from last season.
The dugout
The banked record belongs to the club, not one man: 2 different managers took its 23 matches with one recorded (19, 4 apiece), most recently Peter Cklamovski 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.
Port Vale -- away
Its record at the relevant venue
This season away: won 0, drew 0, lost 2 of 2, scoring 1 and conceding 5. Last season away in the League One: won 6, drew 3, lost 14 of 23, scoring 19 and conceding 36 -- 0.91 points a game.
Its last five league matches
Newest first: lost to Swindon Town 1-3 away; drew with Crewe Alexandra 0-0 at home; drew with Tranmere Rovers 1-1 at home; lost to Oldham Athletic 0-2 away; lost to Lincoln City 0-2 at home in the League One. The last of these is from last season.
The dugout
The banked record belongs to the club, not one man: 2 different managers took its 22 matches with one recorded (13, 9 apiece), most recently Jon Brady with 13. Who picks the team today is not yet recorded this season, so a summer change of manager would not show in these figures.
Built 06:08 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.