Follow live coverage as Stoke City face Middlesbrough 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 - 3 Middlesbrough FC
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:33Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Aidan Morris.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:32Substitution, Middlesbrough. Ryan Giles replaces Tommy Conway.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:32Substitution, Middlesbrough. Samuel Iling-Junior replaces Finn Azaz.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:30Attempt blocked. Andrew Moran (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lewis Baker with a cross.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:29Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Luke Ayling.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:28Andrew Moran (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:28Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:25Offside, Stoke City. Lewis Koumas is caught offside.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:25Attempt missed. Lewis Baker (Stoke City) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right following a set piece situation.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:25Foul by Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough).
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:23Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:22Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:20Foul by Anfernee Dijksteel (Middlesbrough).
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:20Foul by Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:22Attempt blocked. Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andrew Moran.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:20Substitution, Stoke City. Eric-Junior Bocat replaces Michael Rose.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:20Foul by Sam Gallagher (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:19Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:18Foul by Neto Borges (Middlesbrough).
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:16Goal! Stoke City 1, Middlesbrough 3. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:14Offside, Stoke City. Lewis Koumas is caught offside.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:14Substitution, Stoke City. Ben Pearson replaces Tatsuki Seko.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:14Substitution, Stoke City. Junior Tchamadeu replaces Ben Wilmot.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:14Substitution, Middlesbrough. Delano Burgzorg replaces Marcus Forss.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:14Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:10Delay in match because of an injury Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough).
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:10Attempt saved. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Aidan Morris.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:10Attempt blocked. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Finn Azaz.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:06Attempt missed. Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:06Substitution, Stoke City. Lewis Koumas replaces Million Manhoef.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:06Substitution, Stoke City. Sam Gallagher replaces Nathan Lowe.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:04Foul by Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough).
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:02Attempt missed. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:06Attempt blocked. Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City) header from very close range is blocked.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
21:00Lewis Baker (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:58Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ashley Phillips.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:55Goal! Stoke City 1, Middlesbrough 2. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tommy Conway.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:54Substitution, Middlesbrough. Luke Ayling replaces George Edmundson because of an injury.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:54Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:54Delay in match because of an injury George Edmundson (Middlesbrough).
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:48Second Half begins Stoke City 1, Middlesbrough 1.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:33First Half ends, Stoke City 1, Middlesbrough 1.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:33Offside, Middlesbrough. Tommy Conway is caught offside.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:35Attempt saved. Marcus Forss (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Morgan Whittaker.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:32Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:31Goal! Stoke City 1, Middlesbrough 1. Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:29Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Neto Borges.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:29Attempt blocked. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nathan Lowe.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:25Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by George Edmundson.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:21Foul by Ben Wilmot (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:21Foul by Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough).
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:20Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:19Attempt missed. Nathan Lowe (Stoke City) left footed shot from outside the box.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:17Attempt saved. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:17Attempt saved. Lewis Baker (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Nathan Lowe.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:14Attempt missed. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from very close range.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:13Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:09Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:09Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:09Delay in match because of an injury Neto Borges (Middlesbrough).
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:06Goal! Stoke City 0, Middlesbrough 1. Marcus Forss (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:06Foul by Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough).
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:06Foul by Dael Fry (Middlesbrough).
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:06Attempt saved. Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Finn Azaz with a headed pass.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:06Attempt blocked. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Finn Azaz.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
20:00Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
19:58Attempt missed. Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box following a corner.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
19:58Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Enda Stevens.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
19:56Attempt missed. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Tommy Conway.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
19:54Million Manhoef (Stoke City) hits the woodwork with a left footed shot from the right side of the box.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
19:52Attempt missed. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
19:49Attempt missed. Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from more than 35 yards.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
19:48Foul by Lewis Baker (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
19:46First Half begins.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
19:15Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
17:45Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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