Follow live coverage as Oxford United face Plymouth Argyle 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 - 0 Plymouth Argyle FC
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:52Match ends, Oxford United 2, Plymouth Argyle 0.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:50Second Half ends, Oxford United 2, Plymouth Argyle 0.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:48Foul by Matt Phillips (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:48Matthew Sorinola (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:48Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:48Offside, Plymouth Argyle. Andre Gray is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:47Offside, Oxford United. Dane Scarlett is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:47Matt Phillips (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:44Substitution, Oxford United. Dane Scarlett replaces Mark Harris.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:44Substitution, Oxford United. Hidde ter Avest replaces Tyler Goodrham.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:44Foul by Idris El Mizouni (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:43Attempt missed. Darko Gyabi (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Lewis Gibson.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:43Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:43Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Andre Gray replaces Morgan Whittaker.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:43Offside, Plymouth Argyle. Ryan Hardie is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:42Attempt blocked. Morgan Whittaker (Plymouth Argyle) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Hardie.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:41Foul by Will Vaulks (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:35Mark Harris (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:32Matthew Sorinola (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:34Offside, Oxford United. Sam Long is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:34Attempt blocked. Matt Phillips (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:32Foul by Matt Phillips (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:31Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Bali Mumba.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:31Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Matthew Sorinola.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:31Caleb Roberts (Plymouth Argyle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:31Will Vaulks (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:31Substitution, Oxford United. Matt Phillips replaces Rúben Rodrigues.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:31Substitution, Oxford United. Idris El Mizouni replaces Przemyslaw Placheta.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:31Attempt blocked. Ciaron Brown (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tyler Goodrham with a cross.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:28Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Bali Mumba.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:25Rúben Rodrigues (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:25Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Tegan Finn replaces Brendan Galloway.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:25Attempt blocked. Bali Mumba (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:25Attempt blocked. Bali Mumba (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Brendan Galloway.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:23Foul by Rúben Rodrigues (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:23Matthew Sorinola (Plymouth Argyle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:23Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:21Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Cameron Brannagan.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:18Goal! Oxford United 2, Plymouth Argyle 0. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:16Offside, Oxford United. Tyler Goodrham is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:15Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:14Attempt missed. Adam Randell (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:14Foul by Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:14Hand ball by Darko Gyabi (Plymouth Argyle).
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:14Offside, Oxford United. Rúben Rodrigues is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:12Attempt blocked. Ciaron Brown (Oxford United) header from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:12Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Kornél Szucs.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:12Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:09Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Ciaron Brown.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:09Sam Long (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:07Foul by Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:07Attempt missed. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Mark Harris following a fast break.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:07Foul by Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:07Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Greg Leigh.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:07Attempt blocked. Caleb Roberts (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:07Attempt blocked. Caleb Roberts (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:07Attempt blocked. Bali Mumba (Plymouth Argyle) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Darko Gyabi.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:03Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:02Second Half begins Oxford United 1, Plymouth Argyle 0.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
16:02Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Caleb Roberts replaces Rami Al Hajj.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:47First Half ends, Oxford United 1, Plymouth Argyle 0.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:47Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:45Offside, Oxford United. Mark Harris is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:45Greg Leigh (Oxford United) hits the bar with a header from very close range. Assisted by Tyler Goodrham with a cross following a corner.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:42Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Matthew Sorinola.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:42Offside, Oxford United. Mark Harris is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:41Attempt saved. Bali Mumba (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Brendan Galloway.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:41Foul by Mark Harris (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:37Attempt saved. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Cameron Brannagan.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:37Attempt saved. Mark Harris (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:37Attempt blocked. Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sam Long.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:35Attempt blocked. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tyler Goodrham.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:32Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Will Vaulks.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:35Attempt blocked. Rami Al Hajj (Plymouth Argyle) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bali Mumba.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:32Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Sam Long.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:27Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Matthew Sorinola.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:27Attempt saved. Lewis Gibson (Plymouth Argyle) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Adam Randell with a cross.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:27Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Greg Leigh.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:24Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:24Foul by Will Vaulks (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:22Foul by Darko Gyabi (Plymouth Argyle).
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:24Will Vaulks (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:20Rúben Rodrigues (Oxford United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:20Attempt missed. Greg Leigh (Oxford United) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Przemyslaw Placheta with a cross following a corner.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:19Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Conor Hazard.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:20Attempt saved. Mark Harris (Oxford United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Rúben Rodrigues.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:18Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Lewis Gibson.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:14Goal! Oxford United 1, Plymouth Argyle 0. Ciaron Brown (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box following a corner.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:15Attempt blocked. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:13Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Brendan Galloway.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:07Foul by Adam Randell (Plymouth Argyle).
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:05Offside, Plymouth Argyle. Bali Mumba is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
15:00First Half begins.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Oxford United vs Plymouth Argyle
13:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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