Follow live coverage as Stoke City face Blackburn Rovers 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.
Stoke City FC 1 - 0 Blackburn Rovers FC
Stoke City vs Blackburn Rovers
20:22Foul by Ali Al-Hamadi (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Blackburn Rovers
20:20Goal! Stoke City 1, Blackburn Rovers 0. Ali Al-Hamadi (Stoke City) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lewis Baker.
Stoke City vs Blackburn Rovers
20:20Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Stoke City vs Blackburn Rovers
20:20Delay in match because of an injury Eric-Junior Bocat (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Blackburn Rovers
20:16Foul by Makhtar Gueye (Blackburn Rovers).
Stoke City vs Blackburn Rovers
20:06Yuri Ribeiro (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Blackburn Rovers
20:06Attempt blocked. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ali Al-Hamadi.
Stoke City vs Blackburn Rovers
20:02Ali Al-Hamadi (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Stoke City vs Blackburn Rovers
20:02Foul by Lewis Baker (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Blackburn Rovers
20:01First Half begins.
Stoke City vs Blackburn Rovers
19:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Stoke City vs Blackburn Rovers
18:00Follow 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.
