The table makes Manchester City Women the bigger side: 1st against 10th of 12 last season. Against the block the other keeps: Manchester City Women takes 2.80 points a game, West Ham United Women 0.10 -- the block form is Manchester City Women's.
Manchester City Women: 30 league matches in the bank, 8 from this season and the rest from last season. West Ham United Women: 30 league matches in the bank, 8 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
Manchester City Women -- at home
Where it stands
Stands 2nd of 14 after 8 games, with 22 points. Last season it finished 1st of 12 in this division.
Its block
By last season's final table it sits in the top block (1st to 4th). Blocks are drawn from last season because the current table is only 8 games old.
Against today's opponent's block
Today it faces a side from the bottom block (9th to 12th). Against that block it has won 9, drew 1, lost 0 of 10 -- 28 points of 30. At home against them: won 5 of 5. Away against them: won 4 of 5.
Across all the blocks
Across the blocks, over the last two seasons: against the top block won 5, drew 1, lost 2 of 8 (2.00 a game); against the middle block won 9, drew 0, lost 1 of 10 (2.70 a game); against the bottom block won 9, drew 1, lost 0 of 10 (2.80 a game); against sides new to the division won 2, drew 0, lost 0 of 2 (3.00 a game).
West Ham United Women -- away
Where it stands
Stands 10th of 14 after 8 games, with 9 points. Last season it finished 10th of 12 in this division.
Its block
By last season's final table it sits in the bottom block (9th to 12th). Blocks are drawn from last season because the current table is only 8 games old.
Against today's opponent's block
Today it faces a side from the top block (1st to 4th). Against that block it has won 0, drew 1, lost 9 of 10 -- 1 points of 30. At home against them: won 0 of 5. Away against them: won 0 of 5.
Across all the blocks
Across the blocks, over the last two seasons: against the top block won 0, drew 1, lost 9 of 10 (0.10 a game); against the middle block won 3, drew 1, lost 8 of 12 (0.83 a game); against the bottom block won 4, drew 2, lost 1 of 7 (2.00 a game); against sides new to the division won 1, drew 0, lost 0 of 1 (3.00 a game).
Built 02:25 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.