Follow live coverage as Blackburn Rovers face Middlesbrough in the Championship today.
An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.
Relegation from the top flight last term means Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United are all back in the second tier this term and will be expected to push for play-off spots again at least, but so too will Norwich City, an improving Coventry and beaten play-off finalists Leeds United. At the other end of the table, Wayne Rooney is aiming to revive Plymouth’s fortunes after they narrowly avoided relegation last year, with Portsmouth and Derby the teams promoted from League One along with play-off final winners Oxford.
Follow live updates from today’s game in the live blog below.
Blackburn Rovers FC 0 - 2 Middlesbrough FC
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:55Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 0, Middlesbrough 2.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:55Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 0, Middlesbrough 2.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:54Yuri Ribeiro (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:54Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Anfernee Dijksteel.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:54Foul by Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:53Yuri Ribeiro (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:53Attempt saved. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Samuel Iling-Junior.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:52Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:51Foul by Danny Batth (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:49Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Mark Travers.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:51Attempt missed. Yuki Ohashi (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Joe Rankin-Costello with a cross.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:47Substitution, Middlesbrough. Ryan Giles replaces Finn Azaz.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:47Substitution, Middlesbrough. Marcus Forss replaces Tommy Conway.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:47Substitution, Middlesbrough. Daniel Barlaser replaces Kelechi Iheanacho.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:44Foul by Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:44Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:44Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Lewis Travis.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:42Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Yuki Ohashi is caught offside.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:41Attempt saved. Todd Cantwell (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:40Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Cauley Woodrow replaces Ryan Hedges.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:37Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Joe Rankin-Costello.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:37Attempt missed. Yuri Ribeiro (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Tyrhys Dolan with a cross following a corner.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:35Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Mark Travers.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:37Attempt saved. Yuki Ohashi (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Ryan Hedges.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:34Attempt missed. Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box following a fast break.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:32Substitution, Middlesbrough. Morgan Whittaker replaces Delano Burgzorg.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:30Attempt missed. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:26Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Anfernee Dijksteel.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:26Foul by Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:26Attempt missed. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Kelechi Iheanacho.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:26Attempt blocked. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:24John Buckley (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:23Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:21Attempt missed. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:20Foul by Ryan Hedges (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:17Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Todd Cantwell is caught offside.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:17Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:17Delay in match (Middlesbrough).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:13Attempt missed. Todd Cantwell (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the left side of the box.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:11Anfernee Dijksteel (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:11Attempt blocked. Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:11Ryan Hedges (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:07Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Yuki Ohashi replaces Makhtar Gueye.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
21:05Second Half begins Blackburn Rovers 0, Middlesbrough 2.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:50First Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 0, Middlesbrough 2.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:50Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Yuri Ribeiro.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:48Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Danny Batth.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:49Attempt missed. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Delano Burgzorg following a fast break.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:48Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:44Foul by Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:42Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:41Attempt missed. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high following a fast break.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:39Foul by Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:37Foul by Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:38Yuri Ribeiro (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:36Attempt missed. John Buckley (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:34John Buckley (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:34Foul by Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:34Substitution, Middlesbrough. Rav van den Berg replaces Neto Borges because of an injury.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:34Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:34Delay in match (Middlesbrough).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:30Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:30Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:29Delay in match (Middlesbrough).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:27Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:29Foul by Makhtar Gueye (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:24Makhtar Gueye (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:24Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:24Foul by Todd Cantwell (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:21Hand ball by Makhtar Gueye (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:21Foul by Neto Borges (Middlesbrough).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:20Foul by Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:20Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:18Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:17Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Ryan Hedges is caught offside.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:16Attempt missed. Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:16Attempt blocked. Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Hayden Hackney.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:14Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:13Foul by Makhtar Gueye (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:13Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:13Delay in match because of an injury Danny Batth (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:09Goal! Blackburn Rovers 0, Middlesbrough 2. Samuel Iling-Junior (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kelechi Iheanacho.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:04Foul by Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:04Foul by Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough).
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:05Offside, Middlesbrough. Tommy Conway is caught offside.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:02Goal! Blackburn Rovers 0, Middlesbrough 1. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
20:01First Half begins.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
19:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough
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