Follow live coverage as Middlesbrough face Oxford United 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 2 - 1 Oxford United FC
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:59Match ends, Middlesbrough 2, Oxford United 1.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:56Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 2, Oxford United 1.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:56Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:56Attempt missed. Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:54Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:54Attempt missed. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Morgan Whittaker following a set piece situation.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:53Marcus Forss (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:52Attempt missed. Michal Helik (Oxford United) header from the left side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Tyler Goodrham.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:51Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Aidan Morris.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:47Ole Romenij (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:46Substitution, Middlesbrough. Ryan Giles replaces Samuel Iling-Junior.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:46Substitution, Middlesbrough. Rav van den Berg replaces Tommy Conway.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:45Attempt missed. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Aidan Morris.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:45Substitution, Oxford United. Ole Romenij replaces Hidde ter Avest.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:41Goal! Middlesbrough 2, Oxford United 1. Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Samuel Iling-Junior with a cross.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:40Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ciaron Brown.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:39Attempt saved. Samuel Iling-Junior (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:38Marcus Forss (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:37Substitution, Middlesbrough. Marcus Forss replaces Kelechi Iheanacho.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:35Offside, Middlesbrough. Finn Azaz is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:36Attempt blocked. Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:34Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:31Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:31Delay in match because of an injury Will Vaulks (Oxford United).
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:30Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ben Nelson.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:30Attempt blocked. Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:37Attempt blocked. Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:31Attempt blocked. Anfernee Dijksteel (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:28Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Jamie Cumming.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:29Attempt saved. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) header from very close range is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Morgan Whittaker with a cross.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:28Substitution, Middlesbrough. Morgan Whittaker replaces Delano Burgzorg.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:28Substitution, Oxford United. Tyler Goodrham replaces Siriki Dembélé.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:28Substitution, Oxford United. Tom Bradshaw replaces Mark Harris.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:28Substitution, Oxford United. Stanley Mills replaces Przemyslaw Placheta.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:27Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ben Nelson.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:24Attempt blocked. Ciaron Brown (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Siriki Dembélé with a cross.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:22Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Delano Burgzorg.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:20Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Hayden Hackney.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:19Foul by Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:18Mark Harris (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:14Attempt missed. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Jonny Howson following a set piece situation.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:14Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:12Samuel Iling-Junior (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:11Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Will Vaulks.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:08Goal! Middlesbrough 1, Oxford United 1. Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Samuel Iling-Junior with a cross.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:05Second Half begins Middlesbrough 0, Oxford United 1.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
16:05Substitution, Oxford United. Peter Kioso replaces Matt Phillips.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:50First Half ends, Middlesbrough 0, Oxford United 1.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:50Attempt blocked. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:50Foul by Will Vaulks (Oxford United).
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:48Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:48Offside, Middlesbrough. Tommy Conway is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:48Attempt missed. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Aidan Morris following a corner.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:48Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Michal Helik.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:47Attempt blocked. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonny Howson.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:46Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough) hits the bar with a left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:42Foul by Alex Matos (Oxford United).
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:42Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:48Attempt missed. Mark Harris (Oxford United) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Siriki Dembélé with a cross.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:41Foul by Anfernee Dijksteel (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:41Goal! Middlesbrough 0, Oxford United 1. Michal Helik (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mark Harris.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:41Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:35Delay in match because of an injury Matt Phillips (Oxford United).
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:35Foul by Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:33Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:32Foul by Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:32Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Hidde ter Avest.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:32Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ciaron Brown.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:30Attempt blocked. Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Aidan Morris.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:32Attempt blocked. Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Hayden Hackney.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:25Attempt missed. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:21Attempt blocked. Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:20Attempt missed. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Kelechi Iheanacho following a corner.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:20Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ben Nelson.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:24Attempt blocked. Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kelechi Iheanacho.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:20Attempt missed. Matt Phillips (Oxford United) left footed shot from very close range misses to the left. Assisted by Siriki Dembélé with a cross following a corner.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:17Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Anfernee Dijksteel.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:14Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:13Attempt missed. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Hayden Hackney following a corner.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:11Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Alex Matos.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:13Attempt blocked. Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:11Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Hidde ter Avest.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:10Foul by Alex Matos (Oxford United).
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:10Offside, Oxford United. Przemyslaw Placheta is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:10Attempt missed. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:10Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:09Foul by Matt Phillips (Oxford United).
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:08Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Mark Travers.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:08Attempt saved. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Matt Phillips with a cross.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:05Foul by Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:04Attempt saved. Ciaron Brown (Oxford United) left footed shot from very close range is saved.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
15:01First Half begins.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Middlesbrough vs Oxford United
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