Follow live coverage as Preston North End face Oxford 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.
Preston North End FC 1 - 1 Oxford United FC
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:57Match ends, Preston North End 1, Oxford United 1.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:55Second Half ends, Preston North End 1, Oxford United 1.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:55Offside, Oxford United. Dane Scarlett is caught offside.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:55Foul by Andrew Hughes (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:55Siriki Dembélé (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:55Josh Bowler (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:55Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Benjamin Whiteman.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
17:01Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
17:01Delay in match (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:50Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:50Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:50Attempt missed. Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Andrew Hughes.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:50Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Mads Frökjaer-Jensen.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:50Attempt blocked. Will Vaulks (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:50Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:44Foul by Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:48Siriki Dembélé (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:43Substitution, Preston North End. Josh Bowler replaces Duane Holmes.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:50Attempt missed. Milutin Osmajic (Preston North End) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Mads Frökjaer-Jensen.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:38Substitution, Oxford United. Siriki Dembélé replaces Tyler Goodrham.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:38Substitution, Oxford United. Louie Sibley replaces Rúben Rodrigues.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:34Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:34Delay in match (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:33Foul by Stefán Thórdarson (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:31Attempt missed. Stefán Thórdarson (Preston North End) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Duane Holmes following a corner.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:30Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Hidde ter Avest.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:30Duane Holmes (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:30Attempt blocked. Will Vaulks (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:30Substitution, Preston North End. Milutin Osmajic replaces Emil Riis.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:28Goal! Preston North End 1, Oxford United 1. Will Keane (Preston North End) header from very close range.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:26Attempt saved. Rúben Rodrigues (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Hidde ter Avest.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:26Offside, Oxford United. Dane Scarlett is caught offside.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:24Foul by Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:21Jordan Storey (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:21Foul by Jordan Storey (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:21Will Keane (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:21Substitution, Preston North End. Stefán Thórdarson replaces Ali McCann.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:21Substitution, Preston North End. Mads Frökjaer-Jensen replaces Sam Greenwood.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:19Attempt saved. Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:19Jamie Cumming (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:18Liam Lindsay (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:18Attempt missed. Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:18Substitution, Oxford United. Hidde ter Avest replaces Matt Phillips.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:18Substitution, Oxford United. Jordan Thorniley replaces Peter Kioso because of an injury.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:15Ali McCann (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:15Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:15Delay in match because of an injury Peter Kioso (Oxford United).
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:13Offside, Preston North End. Kaine Kesler-Hayden is caught offside.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:26Attempt blocked. Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Benjamin Whiteman.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:11Foul by Will Keane (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:11Peter Kioso (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:10Foul by Jordan Storey (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:08Foul by Ali McCann (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:08Foul by Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United).
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:06Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
16:04Second Half begins Preston North End 0, Oxford United 1.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:49First Half ends, Preston North End 0, Oxford United 1.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:48Foul by Ali McCann (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:48Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:48Foul by Will Keane (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:44Attempt missed. Jordan Storey (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:43Offside, Oxford United. Dane Scarlett is caught offside.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:48Attempt blocked. Liam Lindsay (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Benjamin Whiteman with a cross.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:41Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Cameron Brannagan.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:40Attempt saved. Emil Riis (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:39Andrew Hughes (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:38Attempt missed. Will Keane (Preston North End) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Duane Holmes with a cross.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:35Offside, Preston North End. Emil Riis is caught offside.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:34Attempt missed. Liam Lindsay (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box following a set piece situation.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:34Sam Long (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:33Emil Riis (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:30Foul by Will Keane (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:28Foul by Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United).
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:22Goal! Preston North End 0, Oxford United 1. Rúben Rodrigues (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:21Liam Lindsay (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:21Foul by Liam Lindsay (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:20Attempt missed. Will Keane (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Sam Greenwood.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:20Attempt saved. Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ali McCann.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:19Attempt blocked. Andrew Hughes (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Benjamin Whiteman with a cross.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:17Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Jamie Cumming.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:17Attempt saved. Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Will Keane.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:16Attempt missed. Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:14Ali McCann (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:13Attempt blocked. Will Keane (Preston North End) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kaine Kesler-Hayden.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:11Substitution, Oxford United. Dane Scarlett replaces Mark Harris because of an injury.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:11Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:10Delay in match because of an injury Mark Harris (Oxford United).
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:10Attempt blocked. Ali McCann (Preston North End) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordan Storey.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:06Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Jamie Cumming.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:06Attempt saved. Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Andrew Hughes.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:06Liam Lindsay (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:03Andrew Hughes (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
15:01First Half begins.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Preston North End vs Oxford United
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