Follow live coverage as Portsmouth 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.
Portsmouth FC 2 - 1 Middlesbrough FC
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:32Match ends, Portsmouth 2, Middlesbrough 1.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:26Second Half ends, Portsmouth 2, Middlesbrough 1.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:25Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Zak Swanson.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:24Foul by Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough).
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:23Attempt missed. Marcus Forss (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:23Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:22Tom Glover (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:22Substitution, Middlesbrough. Marcus Forss replaces Finn Azaz.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:22Substitution, Middlesbrough. Luke Ayling replaces Rav van den Berg.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:20Offside, Middlesbrough. Emmanuel Latte Lath is caught offside.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:19Lukas Engel (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:15Goal! Portsmouth 2, Middlesbrough 1. Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Callum Lang.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:13Substitution, Portsmouth. Zak Swanson replaces Jordan Williams.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:13Substitution, Portsmouth. Ryley Towler replaces Rob Atkinson.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:13Substitution, Middlesbrough. Alex Gilbert replaces Delano Burgzorg.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:11Attempt saved. Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Freddie Potts.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:11Attempt saved. Dael Fry (Middlesbrough) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Finn Azaz.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:08Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:08Foul by Freddie Potts (Portsmouth).
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:07Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:05Foul by Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough).
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:03Attempt missed. Josh Murphy (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Callum Lang.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:03Substitution, Middlesbrough. Aidan Morris replaces Daniel Barlaser.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:03Substitution, Middlesbrough. Lukas Engel replaces Neto Borges.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
17:03Substitution, Portsmouth. Andre Dozzell replaces Isaac Hayden.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:57Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Rob Atkinson.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:53Offside, Middlesbrough. Ben Doak is caught offside.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:53Foul by Colby Bishop (Portsmouth).
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:53Attempt missed. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:53Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:53Foul by Rav van den Berg (Middlesbrough).
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:53Connor Ogilvie (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:53Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Josh Murphy.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:53Attempt missed. Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Freddie Potts following a set piece situation.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:53George Edmundson (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:53Callum Lang (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:49Goal! Portsmouth 1, Middlesbrough 1. Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Freddie Potts.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:45Attempt missed. Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Hayden Hackney following a fast break.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:44Offside, Middlesbrough. Rav van den Berg is caught offside.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:42Foul by Callum Lang (Portsmouth).
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:41Attempt missed. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:48Attempt saved. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Tom Glover.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:37Second Half begins Portsmouth 0, Middlesbrough 1.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:23First Half ends, Portsmouth 0, Middlesbrough 1.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:21Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:19Foul by Josh Murphy (Portsmouth).
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:19Rav van den Berg (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:19Foul by Connor Ogilvie (Portsmouth).
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:19Attempt missed. Marlon Pack (Portsmouth) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Matt Ritchie with a cross following a corner.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:18Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Rav van den Berg.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:17Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Hayden Hackney.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:15Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:15Foul by Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth).
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:15Attempt saved. Colby Bishop (Portsmouth) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Matt Ritchie with a cross.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:15Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Dael Fry.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:15Foul by Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth).
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:12Attempt missed. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Neto Borges.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:09Offside, Middlesbrough. Ben Doak is caught offside.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:09Attempt blocked. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Hayden Hackney.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:06Goal! Portsmouth 0, Middlesbrough 1. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Delano Burgzorg.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:05Attempt blocked. Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Neto Borges.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:02Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by George Edmundson.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:01Foul by Freddie Potts (Portsmouth).
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:01Attempt saved. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Rav van den Berg.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:01Attempt missed. Rob Atkinson (Portsmouth) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Matt Ritchie with a cross following a set piece situation.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
16:01Ben Doak (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:59Connor Ogilvie (Portsmouth) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:58Freddie Potts (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:56Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Dael Fry.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:54Attempt missed. Freddie Potts (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:52Attempt missed. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Daniel Barlaser following a corner.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:52Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Rob Atkinson.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:49Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Daniel Barlaser.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:46Foul by Ben Doak (Middlesbrough).
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:46Connor Ogilvie (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:45Josh Murphy (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:43Attempt missed. Josh Murphy (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the box following a corner.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:43Attempt blocked. Callum Lang (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:42Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by George Edmundson.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:41Attempt saved. Callum Lang (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:40Attempt missed. Freddie Potts (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:38Offside, Portsmouth. Colby Bishop is caught offside.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:37Offside, Middlesbrough. Emmanuel Latte Lath is caught offside.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:37Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Nicolas Schmid.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:37Attempt saved. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
15:35First Half begins.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough
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