Follow live coverage as Portsmouth face Stoke City 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 Stoke City FC
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
20:13Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Jordan Williams.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
20:12Josh Wilson-Esbrand (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
20:11Offside, Stoke City. Junior Tchamadeu is caught offside.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
20:08Attempt missed. Lewis Baker (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
20:06Foul by Josh Wilson-Esbrand (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
20:04Attempt saved. Josh Murphy (Portsmouth) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
20:02Foul by Tatsuki Seko (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
20:01Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
20:01Delay in match (Portsmouth).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
20:01Attempt missed. Lewis Koumas (Stoke City) right footed shot from the left side of the box following a set piece situation.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
20:00Attempt blocked. Niall Ennis (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
20:00Marlon Pack (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
20:00Wouter Burger (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
19:59Attempt missed. Connor Ogilvie (Portsmouth) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Matt Ritchie with a cross following a corner.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
19:58Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Lewis Baker.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
19:58Attempt blocked. Callum Lang (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
19:58Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
19:57Delay in match because of an injury Isaac Hayden (Portsmouth).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
19:55Goal! Portsmouth 2, Stoke City 0. Callum Lang (Portsmouth) header from the centre of the box.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
19:54Attempt missed. Colby Bishop (Portsmouth) header from very close range is too high. Assisted by Matt Ritchie with a cross following a corner.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
19:52Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Lewis Koumas.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
19:50Goal! Portsmouth 1, Stoke City 0. Colby Bishop (Portsmouth) converts the penalty with a right footed shot.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
19:50Penalty conceded by Josh Wilson-Esbrand (Stoke City) after a foul in the penalty area.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
19:48Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Ben Wilmot.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
19:47Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
19:47Attempt missed. Callum Lang (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Freddie Potts.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
19:46First Half begins.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
19:15Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
17:45Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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