Rochdale is new to this division, so the rank comparison rests on less than a shared season. Against the block the other keeps: Crewe Alexandra takes 1.50 points a game, Rochdale 2.26 -- the block form is Rochdale's.
Crewe Alexandra: 50 league matches in the bank, 10 from this season and the rest from last season. Rochdale: 50 league matches in the bank, 10 from this season and the rest from last season in the National League.
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
Crewe Alexandra -- at home
Where it stands
Stands 3rd of 24 after 10 games, with 18 points. Last season it finished 11th of 24 in this division.
Its block
By last season's final table it sits in the middle block (9th to 16th). Blocks are drawn from last season because the current table is only 10 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 3, lost 0 of 4 -- 6 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 3, drew 4, lost 8 of 15 (0.87 a game); against the middle block won 5, drew 5, lost 5 of 15 (1.33 a game); against the bottom block won 10, drew 4, lost 2 of 16 (2.12 a game); against sides new to the division won 1, drew 3, lost 0 of 4 (1.50 a game).
Rochdale -- away
Where it stands
Stands 10th of 24 after 10 games, with 14 points. It was not in this division last season -- it came up from the National League, where it finished 1st 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 middle block (9th to 16th). Against that block it has won 13, drew 4, lost 2 of 19 -- 43 points of 57. At home against them: won 8 of 9. Away against them: won 5 of 10.
Across all the blocks
Across the blocks, over the last two seasons: against the top block won 7, drew 5, lost 3 of 15 (1.73 a game); against the middle block won 13, drew 4, lost 2 of 19 (2.26 a game); against the bottom block won 11, drew 1, lost 4 of 16 (2.12 a game).
Built 03:23 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.