Follow live coverage as Sheffield United face Hull 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 0 - 3 Hull City AFC
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:53Match ends, Sheffield United 0, Hull City 3.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:52Second Half ends, Sheffield United 0, Hull City 3.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:52Attempt saved. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sydie Peck.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:51Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:50Offside, Hull City. Abu Kamara is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:52Offside, Hull City. Abu Kamara is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:50Foul by Jack Robinson (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:48Jack Robinson (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:47Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:47Offside, Sheffield United. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:47Attempt blocked. Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:45Foul by João Pedro (Hull City).
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:50Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:45Own Goal by Harrison Burrows, Sheffield United. Sheffield United 0, Hull City 3.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:43Attempt missed. Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box following a set piece situation.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:43Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:43Offside, Hull City. Mason Burstow is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:40Offside, Sheffield United. Tyrese Campbell is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:40Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Sean McLoughlin.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:40Attempt blocked. Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rhian Brewster.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:38Matty Jacob (Hull City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:38Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:37Foul by Jack Robinson (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:36Attempt missed. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is too high. Assisted by Tyrese Campbell.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:35Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:35Foul by Thomas Cannon (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:32Substitution, Hull City. Gustavo Puerta replaces Regan Slater.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:32Substitution, Hull City. Mason Burstow replaces Joe Gelhardt.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:29Attempt missed. Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:30Attempt saved. Sean McLoughlin (Hull City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Steven Alzate with a cross.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:28Foul by Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:28Steven Alzate (Hull City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:26Attempt saved. Regan Slater (Hull City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Matty Jacob.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:26Foul by Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:22Regan Slater (Hull City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:22Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:22Substitution, Hull City. João Pedro replaces Kyle Joseph.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:22Substitution, Sheffield United. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi replaces Alfie Gilchrist.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:20Goal! Sheffield United 0, Hull City 2. Matty Jacob (Hull City) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:20Attempt saved. Abu Kamara (Hull City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:20Attempt blocked. Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:18Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:16Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:16Foul by Matty Jacob (Hull City).
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:16Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:13Offside, Sheffield United. Rhian Brewster is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:13Substitution, Sheffield United. Tyrese Campbell replaces Andre Brooks.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:13Substitution, Sheffield United. Vinicius Souza replaces Sam McCallum.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:13Substitution, Sheffield United. Rhian Brewster replaces Ben Brereton.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:13Substitution, Hull City. Eliot Matazo replaces Matt Crooks.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:13Substitution, Hull City. Matty Jacob replaces Finley Burns.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:13Foul by Sydie Peck (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:10Jack Robinson (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:10Attempt missed. Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jack Robinson.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:08Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Ivor Pandur.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:08Attempt saved. Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is saved.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:08Offside, Sheffield United. Sydie Peck is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:05Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Alfie Jones.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:08Attempt blocked. Sam McCallum (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:04Attempt blocked. Thomas Cannon (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jack Robinson.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
21:02Second Half begins Sheffield United 0, Hull City 1.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:47First Half ends, Sheffield United 0, Hull City 1.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:46Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:46Attempt missed. Joe Gelhardt (Hull City) left footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the left. Assisted by Steven Alzate with a headed pass.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:39Foul by Joe Gelhardt (Hull City).
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:39Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:38Offside, Sheffield United. Jack Robinson is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:37Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Regan Slater.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:33Foul by Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:31Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Cody Drameh.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:31Attempt blocked. Ben Brereton (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:44Attempt missed. Thomas Cannon (Sheffield United) header from the left side of the six yard box following a corner.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:31Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Abu Kamara.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:30Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Ivor Pandur.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:29Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Alfie Jones.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:28Offside, Hull City. Matt Crooks is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:27Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:27Attempt blocked. Joe Gelhardt (Hull City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sean McLoughlin.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:25Hand ball by Kyle Joseph (Hull City).
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:21Attempt missed. Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) header from the left side of the box.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:20Offside, Hull City. Steven Alzate is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:20Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Sydie Peck.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:20Attempt blocked. Abu Kamara (Hull City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt Crooks.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:17Offside, Sheffield United. Thomas Cannon is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:15Attempt missed. Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:12Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:06Goal! Sheffield United 0, Hull City 1. Matt Crooks (Hull City) right footed shot from outside the box.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:06Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Ivor Pandur.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:06Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Matt Crooks.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:13Attempt blocked. Sam McCallum (Sheffield United) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Sydie Peck with a cross.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:04Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Ivor Pandur.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:04Attempt saved. Ben Brereton (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Callum O'Hare.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:04Joe Gelhardt (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
20:01First Half begins.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
19:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Sheffield United vs Hull City
18:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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