Follow live coverage as Sheffield United face Portsmouth 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 - 1 Portsmouth FC
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
17:01Match ends, Sheffield United 2, Portsmouth 1.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:55Second Half ends, Sheffield United 2, Portsmouth 1.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:55Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Gustavo Hamer following a set piece situation.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:54Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:53Offside, Sheffield United. Rhian Brewster is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:51Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:51Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:51Foul by Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:51Substitution, Portsmouth. Marlon Pack replaces Freddie Potts.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:51Offside, Sheffield United. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:51Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Jack Robinson.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:51Foul by Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:47Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:47Delay in match because of an injury Callum Lang (Portsmouth).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:47Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:45Foul by Sydie Peck (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:44Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:44Substitution, Sheffield United. Rob Holding replaces Thomas Cannon.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:43Substitution, Portsmouth. Kaide Gordon replaces Andre Dozzell.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:43Substitution, Portsmouth. Hayden Matthews replaces Conor Shaughnessy.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:40Attempt missed. Thomas Cannon (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Gustavo Hamer following a fast break.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:39Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Harry Clarke.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:42Attempt blocked. Conor Shaughnessy (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:38Harry Clarke (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:35Foul by Josh Murphy (Portsmouth).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:35Foul by Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:34Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:34Goal! Sheffield United 2, Portsmouth 1. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Rhian Brewster with a cross.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:34Substitution, Portsmouth. Adil Aouchiche replaces Matt Ritchie.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:33Substitution, Sheffield United. Rhian Brewster replaces Ben Brereton.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:29Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Josh Murphy.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:28Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:28Attempt missed. Colby Bishop (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Callum Lang.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:28Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Vinicius Souza.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:27Attempt blocked. Josh Murphy (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:25Foul by Harry Clarke (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:25Foul by Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:22Attempt blocked. Callum Lang (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:21Foul by Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:21Attempt missed. Harry Clarke (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Gustavo Hamer with a headed pass.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:18Foul by Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:18Substitution, Sheffield United. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi replaces Tyrese Campbell.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:18Substitution, Sheffield United. Sam McCallum replaces Harrison Burrows.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:18Substitution, Sheffield United. Sydie Peck replaces Hamza Choudhury.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:18Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Michael Cooper.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:18Attempt saved. Josh Murphy (Portsmouth) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Colby Bishop.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:15Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Vinicius Souza.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:14Attempt saved. Josh Murphy (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Colby Bishop.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:14Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:11Attempt missed. Andre Dozzell (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the box following a set piece situation.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:09Foul by Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:08Offside, Portsmouth. Colby Bishop is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:07Foul by Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
16:04Second Half begins Sheffield United 1, Portsmouth 1.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:51First Half ends, Sheffield United 1, Portsmouth 1.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:51Foul by Jack Robinson (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:51Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:51Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:51Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Nicolas Schmid.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:49Attempt saved. Harry Clarke (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gustavo Hamer with a cross.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:48Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Zak Swanson.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:46Attempt missed. Connor Ogilvie (Portsmouth) right footed shot from very close range is too high. Assisted by Josh Murphy with a cross following a set piece situation.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:44Ben Brereton (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:42Foul by Ben Brereton (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:41Attempt missed. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:41Attempt blocked. Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tyrese Campbell.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:40Josh Murphy (Portsmouth) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:40Foul by Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:37Foul by Ben Brereton (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:33Attempt blocked. Josh Murphy (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:33Foul by Hamza Choudhury (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:31Attempt saved. Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:31Foul by Jack Robinson (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:29Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:27Goal! Sheffield United 1, Portsmouth 1. Connor Ogilvie (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:25Rob Atkinson (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:25Goal! Sheffield United 1, Portsmouth 0. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ben Brereton following a fast break.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:22Jack Robinson (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:21Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:19Attempt missed. Callum Lang (Portsmouth) right footed shot from very close range is just a bit too high.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:27Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:19Delay in match (Portsmouth).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:27Delay in match (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:16Offside, Portsmouth. Matt Ritchie is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:15Offside, Sheffield United. Ben Brereton is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:15Attempt blocked. Thomas Cannon (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:14Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Connor Ogilvie.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:14Attempt blocked. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:10Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Rob Atkinson.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:09Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:07Attempt blocked. Colby Bishop (Portsmouth) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:06Attempt saved. Callum Lang (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:04Attempt missed. Thomas Cannon (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:04Attempt blocked. Callum Lang (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:02Foul by Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
15:01First Half begins.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth
13:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
Whether it's Premier League, Champions League, a European Championship or the World Cup we will keep you up to date with everything you need to know.
We will have all the latest scores, goals and updates plus analysis and reaction throughout the game here.
