Follow live coverage as Oxford United face Sheffield United 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 Sheffield United FC
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:58Match ends, Oxford United 1, Sheffield United 0.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:56Second Half ends, Oxford United 1, Sheffield United 0.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:54Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:52Offside, Oxford United. Tyler Goodrham is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:52Jack Robinson (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:51Foul by Jack Robinson (Sheffield United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:50Attempt blocked. Thomas Cannon (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kieffer Moore with a headed pass.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:48Attempt missed. Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:49Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:46Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Ben Nelson.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:46Attempt blocked. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum O'Hare.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:46Substitution, Oxford United. Idris El Mizouni replaces Cameron Brannagan.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:46Substitution, Oxford United. Tom Bradshaw replaces Mark Harris.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:39Substitution, Oxford United. Joe Bennett replaces Siriki Dembélé.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:39Substitution, Oxford United. Tyler Goodrham replaces Przemyslaw Placheta.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:39Attempt missed. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Siriki Dembélé.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:36Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Callum O'Hare.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:37Attempt missed. Michal Helik (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Will Vaulks with a cross.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:34Substitution, Sheffield United. Callum O'Hare replaces Rhian Brewster.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:34Substitution, Sheffield United. Thomas Cannon replaces Sydie Peck.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:32Foul by Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:31Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:29Foul by Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:27Attempt missed. Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:29Attempt missed. Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:27Substitution, Sheffield United. Kieffer Moore replaces Tyrese Campbell.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:27Substitution, Oxford United. Alex Matos replaces Ole Romenij.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:23Attempt saved. Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:27Attempt missed. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) with an attempt from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Harrison Burrows with a cross following a corner.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:21Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Ciaron Brown.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:19Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:19Hand ball by Will Vaulks (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:19Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:16Foul by Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:16Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Siriki Dembélé.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:18Substitution, Sheffield United. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi replaces Ben Brereton.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:12Foul by Femi Seriki (Sheffield United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:12Ciaron Brown (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:10Attempt blocked. Hamza Choudhury (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:09Hidde ter Avest (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:09Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:09Attempt blocked. Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jack Robinson.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:07Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Ciaron Brown.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:08Attempt blocked. Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Harrison Burrows with a cross.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:04Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Ciaron Brown.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:03Attempt missed. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:02Second Half begins Oxford United 1, Sheffield United 0.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:50First Half ends, Oxford United 1, Sheffield United 0.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:46Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:46Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Jamie Cumming.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:46Attempt saved. Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gustavo Hamer.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:46Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Ben Nelson.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:46Attempt blocked. Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tyrese Campbell.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:45Femi Seriki (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:40Goal! Oxford United 1, Sheffield United 0. Siriki Dembélé (Oxford United) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:32Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Jamie Cumming.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:32Attempt saved. Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ben Brereton.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:29Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Przemyslaw Placheta.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:29Attempt saved. Will Vaulks (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:28Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Anel Ahmedhodzic.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:22Attempt saved. Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:22Foul by Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:21Femi Seriki (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:20Attempt blocked. Siriki Dembélé (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:16Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:16Delay in match because of an injury Ole Romenij (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:13Foul by Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:14Attempt blocked. Mark Harris (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ole Romenij with a headed pass.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:12Foul by Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:12Attempt saved. Michal Helik (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Siriki Dembélé with a cross.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:12Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Hamza Choudhury.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:09Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Hidde ter Avest.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:06Hamza Choudhury (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:03Attempt blocked. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ole Romenij.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:01First Half begins.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
13:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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