Follow live coverage as Bristol City face Sunderland 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.
Bristol City FC 2 - 1 Sunderland AFC
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:52Match ends, Bristol City 2, Sunderland 1.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:52Second Half ends, Bristol City 2, Sunderland 1.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:50Substitution, Bristol City. Haydon Roberts replaces Ross McCrorie.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:50Foul by Marcus McGuane (Bristol City).
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:49Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:47Nahki Wells (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:47Joe Anderson (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:47Nahki Wells (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:47Yu Hirakawa (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:45Attempt missed. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:44Attempt missed. Anis Mehmeti (Bristol City) right footed shot from the left side of the box.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:43Foul by Scott Twine (Bristol City).
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:41Substitution, Sunderland. Joe Anderson replaces Leo Hjelde.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:41Attempt missed. Nahki Wells (Bristol City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Scott Twine following a corner.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:40Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Luke O'Nien.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:40Substitution, Bristol City. Marcus McGuane replaces George Earthy.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:40Leo Hjelde (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:40Jason Knight (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:39Nahki Wells (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:37Substitution, Sunderland. Alan Browne replaces Eliezer Mayenda.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:34Goal! Bristol City 2, Sunderland 1. Ross McCrorie (Bristol City) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the centre of the goal.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:31Attempt saved. Cameron Pring (Bristol City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jason Knight.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:31Substitution, Bristol City. Anis Mehmeti replaces Max Bird.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:31Substitution, Bristol City. Scott Twine replaces Joe Williams.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:29Attempt missed. Rob Dickie (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Joe Williams.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:28Attempt blocked. Ross McCrorie (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Max Bird with a cross.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:28Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Leo Hjelde.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:24Anthony Patterson (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:24Attempt missed. Max Bird (Bristol City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Cameron Pring.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:24Attempt saved. Nahki Wells (Bristol City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Max Bird.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:24Substitution, Sunderland. Jobe Bellingham replaces Chris Rigg.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:24Substitution, Sunderland. Wilson Isidor replaces Patrick Roberts.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:24Substitution, Sunderland. Salis Abdul Samed replaces Enzo Le Fée.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:24Attempt missed. Zak Vyner (Bristol City) header from very close range is too high. Assisted by Rob Dickie with a headed pass following a corner.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:23Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Chris Rigg.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:19Attempt blocked. George Earthy (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Max Bird.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:16Goal! Bristol City 1, Sunderland 1. Rob Dickie (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:12Attempt missed. Joe Williams (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Max Bird.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:16Attempt blocked. Nahki Wells (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:16Attempt blocked. George Earthy (Bristol City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:13Attempt missed. Max Bird (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:11Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Tom Watson.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:07Cameron Pring (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:07Foul by Cameron Pring (Bristol City).
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:07Attempt blocked. Ross McCrorie (Bristol City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by George Earthy.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:04Attempt missed. Ross McCrorie (Bristol City) header from the centre of the box.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:03Second Half begins Bristol City 0, Sunderland 1.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
16:03Substitution, Bristol City. Yu Hirakawa replaces George Tanner.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:50First Half ends, Bristol City 0, Sunderland 1.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:50George Earthy (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:50Attempt missed. Ross McCrorie (Bristol City) header from a difficult angle on the right is high and wide to the right.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:50Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:47Attempt saved. Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Eliezer Mayenda.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:45Attempt missed. Ross McCrorie (Bristol City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Max Bird with a cross.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:43Offside, Bristol City. Nahki Wells is caught offside.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:40Foul by George Earthy (Bristol City).
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:40Attempt missed. Cameron Pring (Bristol City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Max Bird.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:39Attempt saved. Nahki Wells (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jason Knight.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:37Offside, Bristol City. George Earthy is caught offside.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:37Attempt saved. Max Bird (Bristol City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:37Attempt blocked. Zak Vyner (Bristol City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Williams.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:32Goal! Bristol City 0, Sunderland 1. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner following a fast break.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:30Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Chris Mepham.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:29Attempt blocked. Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Eliezer Mayenda.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:27Attempt missed. Rob Dickie (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jason Knight.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:27Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:25Delay in match (Bristol City).
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:23Attempt missed. Jason Knight (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:20Foul by Max Bird (Bristol City).
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:17Attempt missed. Ross McCrorie (Bristol City) header from the centre of the box.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:17Cameron Pring (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:11Nahki Wells (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:11Attempt missed. Joe Williams (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left following a set piece situation.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:11Attempt blocked. Jason Knight (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:07Trai Hume (Sunderland) is shown the red card.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:07Foul by Trai Hume (Sunderland).
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:07Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by George Tanner.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:06Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Ross McCrorie.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:02Attempt missed. Chris Rigg (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
15:01First Half begins.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Bristol City vs Sunderland
13:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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