Follow live coverage as Preston North End face Sheffield Wednesday 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 3 - 1 Sheffield Wednesday FC
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:31Match ends, Preston North End 3, Sheffield Wednesday 1.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:30Second Half ends, Preston North End 3, Sheffield Wednesday 1.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:30Foul by Charlie McNeill (Sheffield Wednesday).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:30Attempt blocked. Jamal Lowe (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Iké Ugbo with a headed pass.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:30Djeidi Gassama (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:28Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:27Foul by Pol Valentín (Sheffield Wednesday).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:27Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:25Attempt blocked. Marvin Johnson (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:24Attempt saved. Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the centre of the goal.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:23Attempt missed. Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:23Fourth official has announced 8 minutes of added time.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:21Substitution, Preston North End. Milutin Osmajic replaces Emil Riis.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:19Foul by Pol Valentín (Sheffield Wednesday).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:17Foul by Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:17Duane Holmes (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:17Hand ball by Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:17Attempt blocked. Emil Riis (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:15Iké Ugbo (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:15Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Jamal Lowe replaces Josh Windass.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:12Foul by Djeidi Gassama (Sheffield Wednesday).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:12Charlie McNeill (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:11Goal! Preston North End 3, Sheffield Wednesday 1. Emil Riis (Preston North End) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:13Attempt saved. Emil Riis (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:12Attempt saved. Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Duane Holmes.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:09Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Svante Ingelsson replaces Yan Valery.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:09Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Charlie McNeill replaces Dominic Iorfa because of an injury.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:09Foul by Yan Valery (Sheffield Wednesday).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:07Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:05Delay in match because of an injury Dominic Iorfa (Sheffield Wednesday).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:04Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Andrew Hughes.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:04Substitution, Preston North End. Duane Holmes replaces Josh Bowler.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:04Substitution, Preston North End. Benjamin Whiteman replaces Stefán Thórdarson.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:04Attempt blocked. Jack Whatmough (Preston North End) header from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Sam Greenwood with a cross.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:04Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Pol Valentín.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:04Attempt saved. Josh Windass (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Iké Ugbo.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:00Attempt saved. Josh Windass (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Iké Ugbo.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
14:00Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Iké Ugbo replaces Michael Smith.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:58Shea Charles (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:58Attempt missed. Josh Windass (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Barry Bannan.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:57Foul by Sam Greenwood (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:57Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:57Substitution, Preston North End. Mads Frökjaer-Jensen replaces Will Keane.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:55Goal! Preston North End 2, Sheffield Wednesday 1. Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:54Penalty conceded by Dominic Iorfa (Sheffield Wednesday) after a foul in the penalty area.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:55Attempt blocked. Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ali McCann.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:53Attempt saved. Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:50Goal! Preston North End 1, Sheffield Wednesday 1. Josh Windass (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:50Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Josh Bowler.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:49Attempt missed. Michael Smith (Sheffield Wednesday) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Pol Valentín.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:48Dominic Iorfa (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:48Foul by Dominic Iorfa (Sheffield Wednesday).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:48Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Jordan Storey.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:48Attempt blocked. Josh Windass (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Shea Charles.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:45Djeidi Gassama (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:44Yan Valery (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:43Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Max Lowe.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:43Attempt blocked. Ali McCann (Preston North End) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sam Greenwood.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:41Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:40Delay in match because of an injury Djeidi Gassama (Sheffield Wednesday).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:40Attempt missed. Josh Windass (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Shea Charles.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:40Attempt blocked. Shea Charles (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Djeidi Gassama.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:40Attempt blocked. Pol Valentín (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Michael Smith.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:39Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:36Second Half begins Preston North End 1, Sheffield Wednesday 0.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:36Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Djeidi Gassama replaces Nathaniel Chalobah.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:21First Half ends, Preston North End 1, Sheffield Wednesday 0.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:21Attempt blocked. Shea Charles (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:21Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:17Nathaniel Chalobah (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:17Attempt missed. Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:17Hand ball by Dominic Iorfa (Sheffield Wednesday).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:13Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Andrew Hughes.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:14Attempt missed. Shea Charles (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Barry Bannan.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:10Hand ball by Emil Riis (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:11Attempt saved. Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:09Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Yan Valery.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:04Hand ball by Josh Windass (Sheffield Wednesday).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:02Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Jack Whatmough.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:02Attempt blocked. Michael Smith (Sheffield Wednesday) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Shea Charles with a cross.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:02Foul by Will Keane (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:01Goal! Preston North End 1, Sheffield Wednesday 0. Emil Riis (Preston North End) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jack Whatmough with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
12:59Foul by Shea Charles (Sheffield Wednesday).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
12:59Foul by Nathaniel Chalobah (Sheffield Wednesday).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
12:59Josh Windass (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
12:58Hand ball by Dominic Iorfa (Sheffield Wednesday).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
13:07Attempt missed. Michael Smith (Sheffield Wednesday) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Shea Charles with a cross following a corner.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
12:58Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Andrew Hughes.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
12:54Andrew Hughes (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
12:54Foul by Shea Charles (Sheffield Wednesday).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
12:49Foul by Nathaniel Chalobah (Sheffield Wednesday).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
12:50Attempt blocked. Michael Smith (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
12:44Foul by Ali McCann (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
12:43Josh Bowler (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
12:41Foul by Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
12:41Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
12:36Delay in match (Sheffield Wednesday).
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
12:35Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Andrew Hughes.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
12:36Attempt blocked. Josh Windass (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Barry Bannan.
Preston North End vs Sheffield Wednesday
12:34Attempt missed. Michael Smith (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box.
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website
