Follow live coverage as Middlesbrough face West Bromwich Albion 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 West Bromwich Albion FC
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:33First Half ends, Middlesbrough 1, West Bromwich Albion 0.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:33Attempt blocked. Mason Holgate (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Darnell Furlong.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:33Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:33Attempt blocked. Karlan Grant (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:33Offside, Middlesbrough. Delano Burgzorg is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:33Attempt missed. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) header from very close range is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Neto Borges with a cross.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:32Foul by Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:29Attempt missed. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Luke Ayling with a cross.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:26Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:26Foul by Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:26Attempt missed. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Hayden Hackney.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:22Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Karlan Grant is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:25Attempt saved. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:24Attempt blocked. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:19Attempt saved. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:16Offside, Middlesbrough. Emmanuel Latte Lath is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:14Goal! Middlesbrough 1, West Bromwich Albion 0. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:10Attempt missed. Tom Fellows (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:11Attempt blocked. Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum Styles.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:06Attempt blocked. Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Neto Borges.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:05Attempt missed. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:05Foul by Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:06Attempt blocked. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ben Doak.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:04Foul by Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:04Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:01Foul by Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
20:01Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Darnell Furlong.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
19:57Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
19:55Attempt blocked. Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
19:53Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Mikey Johnston is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
19:52Foul by Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
19:52Attempt blocked. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Luke Ayling.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
19:48Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Darnell Furlong.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
19:47Attempt missed. Darnell Furlong (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
19:46First Half begins.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
19:15Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Middlesbrough vs West Bromwich Albion
17:45Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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