Follow live coverage as Oxford United face Derby County 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 1 - 0 Derby County FC
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:54Attempt blocked. Kenzo Goudmijn (Derby County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:53Corey Blackett-Taylor (Derby County) is shown the yellow card.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:48Second Half begins Oxford United 1, Derby County 0.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:48Substitution, Oxford United. Owen Dale replaces Siriki Dembélé.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:33First Half ends, Oxford United 1, Derby County 0.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:33Callum Elder (Derby County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:32Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:31Attempt blocked. Rúben Rodrigues (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:30Attempt blocked. Ebou Adams (Derby County) header from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Nathaniel Méndez-Laing with a cross.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:29Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Peter Kioso.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:28Siriki Dembélé (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:26Attempt missed. Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Will Vaulks.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:26Ben Osborn (Derby County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:25Foul by Ben Osborn (Derby County).
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:25Attempt blocked. Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:22Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Ben Osborn.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:20Attempt saved. Corey Blackett-Taylor (Derby County) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:17Attempt missed. Ben Osborn (Derby County) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:17Ciaron Brown (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:16Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:15Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:15Delay in match because of an injury Jacob Widell Zetterström (Derby County).
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:10Attempt saved. Eiran Cashin (Derby County) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ben Osborn.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:10Foul by Will Vaulks (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:08Foul by Will Vaulks (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:05Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:05Foul by Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:03Attempt missed. Ebou Adams (Derby County) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:03Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Jamie Cumming.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:03Attempt saved. Kane Wilson (Derby County) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner.
Oxford United vs Derby County
20:03Attempt blocked. Nathaniel Méndez-Laing (Derby County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum Elder with a cross.
Oxford United vs Derby County
19:58Goal! Oxford United 1, Derby County 0. Dane Scarlett (Oxford United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Idris El Mizouni with a cross.
Oxford United vs Derby County
19:57Foul by Idris El Mizouni (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Derby County
19:52Attempt blocked. Siriki Dembélé (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Idris El Mizouni.
Oxford United vs Derby County
19:47Attempt missed. Siriki Dembélé (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box.
Oxford United vs Derby County
19:46First Half begins.
Oxford United vs Derby County
19:15Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Oxford United vs Derby County
17:45Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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