Follow live coverage as Sheffield United face Cardiff 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.
Sheffield United FC 2 - 0 Cardiff City FC
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:26Match ends, Sheffield United 2, Cardiff City 0.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:26Second Half ends, Sheffield United 2, Cardiff City 0.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:26Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Will Fish.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:26Attempt blocked. Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kieffer Moore.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:26Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by David Turnbull.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:26Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:23Attempt saved. Yousef Salech (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box is saved.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:23Foul by Ben Brereton (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:23Foul by Ben Brereton (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:23Attempt blocked. Ben Brereton (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Femi Seriki with a cross.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:23Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:23Attempt saved. Yousef Salech (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Cian Ashford with a cross.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:19Attempt saved. Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:19Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:32Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:19Substitution, Cardiff City. Joel Bagan replaces Rubin Colwill because of an injury.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:19Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:32Delay in match because of an injury Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:16Goal! Sheffield United 2, Cardiff City 0. Ben Brereton (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:16Attempt blocked. Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:15Substitution, Sheffield United. Jack Robinson replaces Rob Holding.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:15Substitution, Sheffield United. Femi Seriki replaces Gustavo Hamer because of an injury.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:15Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:15Delay in match because of an injury Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:11Attempt saved. Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Callum O'Hare with a cross.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:08Attempt missed. Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:08Substitution, Sheffield United. Ben Brereton replaces Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:06Substitution, Cardiff City. Rubin Colwill replaces Sivert Mannsverk.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:06Foul by David Turnbull (Cardiff City).
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:03Attempt blocked. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sydie Peck with a cross.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:02Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Calum Chambers.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:03Attempt blocked. Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Gustavo Hamer.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:00Attempt saved. Yakou Méïté (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:59Attempt missed. Will Fish (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by David Turnbull with a cross following a corner.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:59Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Vinicius Souza.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:59Hamza Choudhury (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:58Foul by Hamza Choudhury (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:58Foul by Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:58Substitution, Cardiff City. David Turnbull replaces Alex Robertson because of an injury.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:32Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:55Substitution, Sheffield United. Callum O'Hare replaces Rhian Brewster.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:55Substitution, Sheffield United. Kieffer Moore replaces Tyrese Campbell.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
19:32Delay in match (Cardiff City).
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:53Foul by Callum O'Dowda (Cardiff City).
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:53Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:53Attempt blocked. Yousef Salech (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sivert Mannsverk.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:50Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Callum O'Dowda.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:46Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:46Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Ethan Horvath.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:45Attempt blocked. Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:44Offside, Sheffield United. Harrison Burrows is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:39Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Calum Chambers.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:38Foul by Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:34Second Half begins Sheffield United 1, Cardiff City 0.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:34Substitution, Cardiff City. Cian Ashford replaces Ollie Tanner.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:18First Half ends, Sheffield United 1, Cardiff City 0.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:17Foul by Rob Holding (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:16Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:16Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:15Delay in match because of an injury Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:15Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Ollie Tanner.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:14Offside, Cardiff City. Yakou Méïté is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:14Attempt blocked. Hamza Choudhury (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:08Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) hits the right post with a right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:08Foul by Calum Chambers (Cardiff City).
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:04Goal! Sheffield United 1, Cardiff City 0. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
18:02Foul by Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
17:59Attempt missed. Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Rob Holding.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
17:58Attempt missed. Will Alves (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Andy Rinomhota.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
17:56Will Fish (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
17:55Foul by Will Fish (Cardiff City).
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
17:55Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
17:54Rob Holding (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
17:49Offside, Cardiff City. Alex Robertson is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
17:49Attempt blocked. Yakou Méïté (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
17:49Attempt blocked. Yousef Salech (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Robertson.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
17:49Attempt blocked. Will Alves (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Robertson.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
17:44Attempt missed. Yakou Méïté (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
17:42Attempt missed. Yakou Méïté (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
17:35Foul by Sydie Peck (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
17:31Sivert Mannsverk (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
17:31First Half begins.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
17:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City
15:30Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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