Follow live coverage as Oxford United face Middlesbrough 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 2 - 6 Middlesbrough FC
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:57Match ends, Oxford United 2, Middlesbrough 6.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:54Second Half ends, Oxford United 2, Middlesbrough 6.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:54Attempt missed. Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Przemyslaw Placheta with a headed pass.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:54George Edmundson (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:54Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Matt Clarke.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:52Micah Hamilton (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:52Attempt saved. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Riley McGree.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:52Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:51Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Tyler Goodrham.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:47Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Hidde ter Avest.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:47Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Jamie Cumming.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:47Attempt saved. Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:47Substitution, Middlesbrough. Anfernee Dijksteel replaces Luke Ayling.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:47Substitution, Middlesbrough. Micah Hamilton replaces Finn Azaz.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:44Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Hidde ter Avest.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:42Goal! Oxford United 2, Middlesbrough 6. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:42Matt Clarke (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:40Goal! Oxford United 2, Middlesbrough 5. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Riley McGree.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:38Foul by George Edmundson (Middlesbrough).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:37Attempt missed. Idris El Mizouni (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:37Attempt missed. Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Finn Azaz.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:35Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) hits the right post with a left footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Tommy Conway.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:35Substitution, Middlesbrough. Riley McGree replaces Delano Burgzorg.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:34Substitution, Oxford United. Idris El Mizouni replaces Will Vaulks.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:34Substitution, Oxford United. Josh McEachran replaces Cameron Brannagan.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:31Goal! Oxford United 2, Middlesbrough 4. Dane Scarlett (Oxford United) right footed shot from the right side of the box.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:30Foul by Jonny Howson (Middlesbrough).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:29Foul by Matt Clarke (Middlesbrough).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:24Foul by Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:25Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:24Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:24Substitution, Oxford United. Matt Phillips replaces Rúben Rodrigues.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:22Substitution, Middlesbrough. Marcus Forss replaces Ben Doak.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:22Substitution, Middlesbrough. Tommy Conway replaces Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:22Attempt missed. Rúben Rodrigues (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Tyler Goodrham with a cross following a corner.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:22Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Sol Brynn.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:22Attempt saved. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Greg Leigh.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:22Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Matt Clarke.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:22Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:22Delay in match because of an injury Hidde ter Avest (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:22Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:22Hidde ter Avest (Oxford United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:17Attempt missed. George Edmundson (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box misses to the right.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:17Attempt saved. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Delano Burgzorg.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:15Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Rúben Rodrigues.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:13Substitution, Oxford United. Przemyslaw Placheta replaces Elliott Moore.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:13Substitution, Oxford United. Dane Scarlett replaces Mark Harris.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:11Offside, Oxford United. Rúben Rodrigues is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:08Goal! Oxford United 1, Middlesbrough 4. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:06Offside, Middlesbrough. Emmanuel Latte Lath is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:06Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:05Second Half begins Oxford United 1, Middlesbrough 3.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:50First Half ends, Oxford United 1, Middlesbrough 3.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:47Attempt saved. Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Jonny Howson.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:48Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:45Goal! Oxford United 1, Middlesbrough 3. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Finn Azaz with a through ball.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:45Foul by Daniel Barlaser (Middlesbrough).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:42Goal! Oxford United 1, Middlesbrough 2. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:42Attempt saved. Mark Harris (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Rúben Rodrigues.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:41Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Matt Clarke.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:42Matt Clarke (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:38Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ciaron Brown.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:37Goal! Oxford United 1, Middlesbrough 1. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:35Elliott Moore (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:35Penalty Middlesbrough. Ben Doak draws a foul in the penalty area.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:31Ben Doak (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:34Attempt saved. Elliott Moore (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:32Attempt missed. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Sam Long following a set piece situation.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:29Foul by Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:28Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:27Foul by Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:25Goal! Oxford United 1, Middlesbrough 0. Greg Leigh (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner following a corner.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:25Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Sol Brynn.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:28Attempt saved. Sam Long (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Greg Leigh.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:23Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Matt Clarke.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:21Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Sam Long.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:15Attempt missed. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:14Attempt saved. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Finn Azaz.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:10Foul by Mark Harris (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:10Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Sol Brynn.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:10Attempt saved. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Greg Leigh.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:08Attempt saved. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:07Jamie Cumming (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:22Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Hidde ter Avest.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:01First Half begins.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
13:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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