Follow live coverage as Middlesbrough face Coventry City 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.
Middlesbrough FC 0 - 3 Coventry City FC
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
18:09Foul by Haji Wright (Coventry City).
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
18:09Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Matt Clarke.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:55George Edmundson (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:44Offside, Middlesbrough. Aidan Morris is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:57Attempt blocked. Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:14Attempt blocked. Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Isaiah Jones.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:23Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Bobby Thomas.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:11Second Half begins Middlesbrough 0, Coventry City 1.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:20First Half ends, Middlesbrough 0, Coventry City 1.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:20Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Jack Rudoni.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:03Attempt blocked. Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonny Howson with a cross.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:20Bobby Thomas (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:12Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:04Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:13Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:13Goal! Middlesbrough 0, Coventry City 1. Bobby Thomas (Coventry City) header from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Josh Eccles with a cross following a corner.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:13Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by George Edmundson.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:01Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by George Edmundson.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:59Attempt blocked. Haji Wright (Coventry City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Victor Torp with a cross.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:02Foul by Neto Borges (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:03Isaiah Jones (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:58Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Matt Clarke.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:54Brandon Thomas-Asante (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:04Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:01Attempt blocked. Jonny Howson (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
17:01Substitution, Middlesbrough. Jonny Howson replaces Finn Azaz.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:55Jack Rudoni (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:57Isaiah Jones (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:54Second yellow card to Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) for a bad foul.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:54Foul by Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:55Offside, Coventry City. Bobby Thomas is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:55Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Luke Ayling.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:56Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:56Delay in match because of an injury Seny Dieng (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:54Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Isaiah Jones.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:55Attempt missed. Brandon Thomas-Asante (Coventry City) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is high and wide to the right.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:55Offside, Coventry City. Haji Wright is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:55Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:54Josh Eccles (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:54Attempt missed. Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Finn Azaz.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:54Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Neto Borges.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:54Attempt saved. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Isaiah Jones.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:54Offside, Coventry City. Brandon Thomas-Asante is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:54First Half begins.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
16:54Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
13:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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