Follow live coverage as Derby County 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.
Derby County FC 0 - 1 Sunderland AFC
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:32First Half ends, Derby County 0, Sunderland 1.
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:32Foul by Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland).
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:32Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:29Attempt saved. Ebou Adams (Derby County) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Callum Elder with a cross.
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:29Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Trai Hume.
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:29Hand ball by Trai Hume (Sunderland).
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:29Foul by Wilson Isidor (Sunderland).
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:29Foul by Chris Rigg (Sunderland).
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:25Attempt saved. Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:24Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:20Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:18Foul by Jerry Yates (Derby County).
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:18Ebou Adams (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:16Goal! Derby County 0, Sunderland 1. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the centre of the goal following a fast break.
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:14Attempt missed. Craig Forsyth (Derby County) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Nathaniel Méndez-Laing with a cross following a corner.
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:13Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Trai Hume.
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:12Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Kenzo Goudmijn.
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:14Attempt saved. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Enzo Le Fée.
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:06Foul by Liam Thompson (Derby County).
Derby County vs Sunderland
20:05Foul by Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland).
Derby County vs Sunderland
19:58Foul by Kane Wilson (Derby County).
Derby County vs Sunderland
19:56Liam Thompson (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Derby County vs Sunderland
19:55Attempt missed. Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Derby County vs Sunderland
19:48Marcus Harness (Derby County) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Derby County vs Sunderland
19:46First Half begins.
Derby County vs Sunderland
19:15Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Derby County vs Sunderland
17:45Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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