Follow live coverage as Oxford United face Sunderland 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 Sunderland AFC
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:59Match ends, Oxford United 2, Sunderland 0.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:54Second Half ends, Oxford United 2, Sunderland 0.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:54Foul by Alan Browne (Sunderland).
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:54Attempt missed. Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) header from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Chris Mepham.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:50Chris Rigg (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:48Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Jamie Cumming.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:48Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Alex Matos.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:47Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:47Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Hidde ter Avest.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:46Substitution, Oxford United. Elliott Moore replaces Greg Leigh.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:46Substitution, Oxford United. Joe Bennett replaces Mark Harris because of an injury.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:45Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:45Delay in match because of an injury Mark Harris (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:43Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:42Substitution, Oxford United. Hidde ter Avest replaces Sam Long because of an injury.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:42Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:39Substitution, Sunderland. Salis Abdul Samed replaces Dan Neil.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:35Substitution, Sunderland. Alan Browne replaces Enzo Le Fée.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:35Delay in match because of an injury Sam Long (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:33Attempt blocked. Trai Hume (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Chris Rigg.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:33Chris Rigg (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:31Foul by Alex Matos (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:31Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:31Substitution, Oxford United. Matt Phillips replaces Przemyslaw Placheta.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:29Substitution, Oxford United. Alex Matos replaces Rúben Rodrigues.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:29Attempt missed. Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:29Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Ben Nelson.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:29Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:29Substitution, Sunderland. Dennis Cirkin replaces Leo Hjelde.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:29Substitution, Sunderland. Tom Watson replaces Patrick Roberts.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:29Attempt blocked. Chris Rigg (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:28Attempt blocked. Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Chris Rigg.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:24Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:24Will Vaulks (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:20Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:18Chris Rigg (Sunderland) hits the left post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Enzo Le Fée.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:24Attempt missed. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Tyler Goodrham.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:13Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:11Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:11Delay in match because of an injury Wilson Isidor (Sunderland).
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:11Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:10Foul by Dan Neil (Sunderland).
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:10Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Anthony Patterson.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:10Attempt saved. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Rúben Rodrigues.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:06Attempt missed. Will Vaulks (Oxford United) right footed shot from more than 35 yards.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:05Goal! Oxford United 2, Sunderland 0. Michal Helik (Oxford United) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal following a set piece situation.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:05Attempt saved. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:04Foul by Chris Mepham (Sunderland).
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:09Attempt blocked. Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:07Attempt blocked. Michal Helik (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:18Attempt blocked. Greg Leigh (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Przemyslaw Placheta.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:03Foul by Chris Mepham (Sunderland).
Oxford United vs Sunderland
16:02Second Half begins Oxford United 1, Sunderland 0.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:48First Half ends, Oxford United 1, Sunderland 0.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:48Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:48Dan Neil (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:44Attempt missed. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:43Chris Mepham (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:43Foul by Dan Neil (Sunderland).
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:43Rúben Rodrigues (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:40Attempt missed. Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:37Attempt missed. Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Leo Hjelde.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:37Attempt blocked. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Chris Rigg.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:37Goal! Oxford United 1, Sunderland 0. Ben Nelson (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Will Vaulks following a set piece situation.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:37Foul by Chris Mepham (Sunderland).
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:34Rúben Rodrigues (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:32Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:29Attempt missed. Mark Harris (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:27Foul by Patrick Roberts (Sunderland).
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:24Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:24Attempt blocked. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:22Foul by Patrick Roberts (Sunderland).
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:23Attempt blocked. Chris Rigg (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Patrick Roberts.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:21Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:19Foul by Leo Hjelde (Sunderland).
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:18Foul by Chris Rigg (Sunderland).
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:18Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Will Vaulks.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:18Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:14Trai Hume (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:13Foul by Ben Nelson (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:09Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Tyler Goodrham.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:09Attempt missed. Chris Rigg (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:07Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Michal Helik.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:07Attempt missed. Will Vaulks (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Cameron Brannagan following a corner.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:07Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Anthony Patterson.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:07Attempt saved. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Rúben Rodrigues.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:02First Half begins.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:57Attempt blocked. Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:55Attempt blocked. Rúben Rodrigues (Oxford United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:53Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Jobe Bellingham.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
15:51Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Trai Hume.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Oxford United vs Sunderland
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