Follow live coverage as Sheffield United face Stoke 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 Stoke City FC
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:57Match ends, Sheffield United 2, Stoke City 0.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:55Second Half ends, Sheffield United 2, Stoke City 0.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:55Offside, Stoke City. Ashley Phillips is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:54Foul by Harry Souttar (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:53Substitution, Sheffield United. Sydie Peck replaces Kieffer Moore.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:52Sam McCallum (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:52Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:52Sam McCallum (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:52Substitution, Stoke City. André Vidigal replaces Junior Tchamadeu.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:52Attempt missed. Harry Souttar (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Oliver Arblaster with a cross following a corner.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:52Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Viktor Johansson.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:52Attempt saved. Jamie Shackleton (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:52Attempt blocked. Andre Brooks (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rhian Brewster.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:46Foul by Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:46Foul by Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:44Lewis Koumas (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:42Jamie Shackleton (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:57Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:57Delay in match (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:39Oliver Arblaster (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:38Attempt missed. Lewis Koumas (Stoke City) left footed shot from the left side of the box.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:38Substitution, Sheffield United. Sam McCallum replaces Callum O'Hare.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:38Substitution, Sheffield United. Jamie Shackleton replaces Alfie Gilchrist.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:38Substitution, Stoke City. Tatsuki Seko replaces Wouter Burger.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:38Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:38Foul by Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:38Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:38Foul by Andre Brooks (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:31Attempt missed. Wouter Burger (Stoke City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:30Attempt saved. Lewis Koumas (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:30Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:30Delay in match because of an injury Oliver Arblaster (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:30Substitution, Stoke City. Eric-Junior Bocat replaces Ben Gibson.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:30Substitution, Sheffield United. Andre Brooks replaces Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:29Substitution, Sheffield United. Rhian Brewster replaces Tyrese Campbell.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:22Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Viktor Johansson.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:22Attempt saved. Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Harrison Burrows.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:22Attempt missed. Ashley Phillips (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:22Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Harry Souttar.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:22Foul by Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:22Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:19Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Anel Ahmedhodzic.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:10Goal! Sheffield United 2, Stoke City 0. Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:08Offside, Stoke City. Enda Stevens is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:07Attempt saved. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:06Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:06Foul by Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:05Second Half begins Sheffield United 1, Stoke City 0.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
16:05Substitution, Stoke City. Bae Jun-Ho replaces Thomas Cannon.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:49First Half ends, Sheffield United 1, Stoke City 0.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:48Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:48Foul by Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:47Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:46Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:46Ben Gibson (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:45Foul by Ben Gibson (Stoke City).
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:45Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:45Offside, Stoke City. Junior Tchamadeu is caught offside.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:42Foul by Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:41Attempt blocked. Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:38Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:37Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:37Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:37Foul by Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:37Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:37Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:37Delay in match because of an injury Viktor Johansson (Stoke City).
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:37Attempt missed. Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Harrison Burrows with a cross following a corner.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:36Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Ben Gibson.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:36Attempt blocked. Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:36Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Ashley Phillips.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:36Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:34Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:31Attempt saved. Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:28Attempt saved. Ashley Phillips (Stoke City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Million Manhoef.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:28Foul by Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:27Attempt blocked. Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kieffer Moore with a headed pass.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:26Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:26Delay in match because of an injury Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City).
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:25Attempt missed. Oliver Arblaster (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:24Attempt saved. Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Harry Souttar.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:24Attempt blocked. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alfie Gilchrist.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:20Attempt missed. Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City) left footed shot from the right side of the box.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:20Foul by Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United).
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:18Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Andrew Moran.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:26Attempt blocked. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Harry Souttar.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:18Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Alfie Gilchrist.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:18Attempt missed. Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Harrison Burrows with a cross.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:15Goal! Sheffield United 1, Stoke City 0. Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Alfie Gilchrist following a set piece situation.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:18Attempt missed. Alfie Gilchrist (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:17Attempt blocked. Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:15Oliver Arblaster (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:15Attempt blocked. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:10Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:08Delay in match because of an injury Million Manhoef (Stoke City).
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
15:01First Half begins.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Sheffield United vs Stoke City
13:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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