Follow live coverage as Middlesbrough face Sheffield 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 1 - 0 Sheffield United FC
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:53Match ends, Middlesbrough 1, Sheffield United 0.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:52Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 1, Sheffield United 0.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:52Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:52Attempt saved. Jamie Shackleton (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Tyrese Campbell.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:52Substitution, Middlesbrough. Matt Clarke replaces Finn Azaz.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:48Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:48Foul by Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:46Attempt saved. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:46Substitution, Middlesbrough. Isaiah Jones replaces Ben Doak.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:46Substitution, Middlesbrough. Jonny Howson replaces Riley McGree.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:44Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Michael Cooper.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:44Attempt saved. Ben Doak (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Finn Azaz.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:44Substitution, Sheffield United. Andre Brooks replaces Alfie Gilchrist.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:42Attempt missed. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:41Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by George Edmundson.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:41Attempt missed. Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Gustavo Hamer.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:39Attempt missed. Ben Doak (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:36Goal! Middlesbrough 1, Sheffield United 0. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:36Substitution, Sheffield United. Tyrese Campbell replaces Kieffer Moore.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:34Substitution, Middlesbrough. Emmanuel Latte Lath replaces Tommy Conway.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:31Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:31Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:31Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Seny Dieng.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:31Attempt saved. Alfie Gilchrist (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:29Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Neto Borges.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:29Attempt missed. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by George Edmundson.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:29Attempt blocked. Jamie Shackleton (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alfie Gilchrist.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:27Attempt blocked. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:27Offside, Middlesbrough. Luke Ayling is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:27Attempt blocked. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Luke Ayling.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:24Foul by Neto Borges (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:24Offside, Middlesbrough. Tommy Conway is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:23Attempt missed. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Rhys Norrington-Davies.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:19Attempt missed. Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box following a corner.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:19Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Alfie Gilchrist.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:19Attempt blocked. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Finn Azaz.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:19Substitution, Sheffield United. Jamie Shackleton replaces Sydie Peck.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:19Substitution, Sheffield United. Rhys Norrington-Davies replaces Sam McCallum.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:19Substitution, Sheffield United. Gustavo Hamer replaces Callum O'Hare.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:19Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:16Delay in match because of an injury Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United).
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:16Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Michael Cooper.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:16Attempt saved. Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Finn Azaz.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:16Foul by Ben Doak (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:16Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:11Delay in match because of an injury Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United).
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:07Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by George Edmundson.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:07George Edmundson (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:05Foul by Neto Borges (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
21:01Second Half begins Middlesbrough 0, Sheffield United 0.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:49First Half ends, Middlesbrough 0, Sheffield United 0.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:49Fourth official has announced %injmins% minutes of added time.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:47Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Sam McCallum.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:43Attempt missed. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Ben Doak.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:40Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Oliver Arblaster.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:39Foul by Sam McCallum (Sheffield United).
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:39Attempt blocked. Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Riley McGree.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:37Attempt blocked. Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Finn Azaz.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:34Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:32Attempt saved. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:32Attempt saved. Ben Doak (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Hayden Hackney.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:30Attempt saved. Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:30Attempt blocked. Ben Doak (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Riley McGree.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:27Attempt blocked. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:25Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Oliver Arblaster.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:25Attempt blocked. Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Hayden Hackney.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:19Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Neto Borges.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:19Attempt saved. Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Oliver Arblaster.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:18Offside, Middlesbrough. Neto Borges is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:12Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:12Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:12Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Anel Ahmedhodzic.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:12Attempt blocked. George Edmundson (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Luke Ayling with a cross.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:12Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Alfie Gilchrist.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:07Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by George Edmundson.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
20:01First Half begins.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
19:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United
18:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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