Follow live coverage as Oxford United face Cardiff 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.
Oxford United FC 3 - 2 Cardiff City FC
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:55Match ends, Oxford United 3, Cardiff City 2.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:53Second Half ends, Oxford United 3, Cardiff City 2.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:53Goal! Oxford United 3, Cardiff City 2. Callum Robinson (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner following a set piece situation.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:53Attempt blocked. Calum Chambers (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:53Hand ball by Siriki Dembélé (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:53Louie Sibley (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:50Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:47Substitution, Oxford United. Louie Sibley replaces Tyler Goodrham.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:47Foul by Anwar El Ghazi (Cardiff City).
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:44Foul by Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:43Siriki Dembélé (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:43Alex Robertson (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:40Goal! Oxford United 3, Cardiff City 1. Cian Ashford (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:39Alex Robertson (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:39Foul by Alex Robertson (Cardiff City).
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:39Foul by Calum Chambers (Cardiff City).
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:36Attempt saved. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:38Attempt blocked. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sam Long.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:34Attempt missed. Ciaron Brown (Oxford United) header from very close range is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Tyler Goodrham with a cross following a corner.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:34Substitution, Oxford United. Siriki Dembélé replaces Przemyslaw Placheta.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:34Substitution, Oxford United. Matt Phillips replaces Rúben Rodrigues.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:31Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Joel Bagan.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:29Andy Rinomhota (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:27Substitution, Cardiff City. Cian Ashford replaces Yakou Méïté.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:27Substitution, Cardiff City. Anwar El Ghazi replaces Callum O'Dowda.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:24Foul by Mark Harris (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:21Jak Alnwick (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:20Attempt saved. Mark Harris (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:19Attempt missed. Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Yakou Méïté.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:19Substitution, Cardiff City. Ronan Kpakio replaces Manolis Siopis.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:15Goal! Oxford United 3, Cardiff City 0. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Ciaron Brown with a headed pass.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:13Attempt saved. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Przemyslaw Placheta.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:12Goal! Oxford United 2, Cardiff City 0. Ciaron Brown (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tyler Goodrham with a cross following a corner.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:11Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Joel Bagan.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:09Attempt missed. Rúben Rodrigues (Oxford United) right footed shot from the right side of the box.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:07Attempt missed. Callum O'Dowda (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the left side of the box.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:04Attempt missed. Ciaron Brown (Oxford United) header from the right side of the six yard box.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:03Second Half begins Oxford United 1, Cardiff City 0.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
16:03Substitution, Cardiff City. Callum Robinson replaces Chris Willock.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:48First Half ends, Oxford United 1, Cardiff City 0.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:48Sam Long (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:48Offside, Cardiff City. Chris Willock is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:48Attempt missed. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Mark Harris.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:48Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:44Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:44Foul by Calum Chambers (Cardiff City).
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:44Offside, Oxford United. Mark Harris is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:43Calum Chambers (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:42Goal! Oxford United 1, Cardiff City 0. Mark Harris (Oxford United) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Przemyslaw Placheta.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:38Andy Rinomhota (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:38Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:38Delay in match because of an injury Dimitrios Goutas (Cardiff City).
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:38Attempt blocked. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:36Attempt missed. Mark Harris (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Tyler Goodrham.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:36Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:36Delay in match because of an injury Rúben Rodrigues (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:35Foul by Alex Robertson (Cardiff City).
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:30Chris Willock (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:30Yakou Méïté (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:23Foul by Will Vaulks (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:23Yakou Méïté (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:21Chris Willock (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:20Attempt blocked. Chris Willock (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Robertson.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:15Attempt saved. Yakou Méïté (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:16Attempt blocked. Chris Willock (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Yakou Méïté.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:08Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Andy Rinomhota.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:05Attempt missed. Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:08Joel Bagan (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:04Joel Bagan (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:05Foul by Greg Leigh (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:07Offside, Oxford United. Greg Leigh is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:03Foul by Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:02Foul by Alex Robertson (Cardiff City).
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:02Will Vaulks (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
15:01First Half begins.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Oxford United vs Cardiff City
13:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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