Follow live coverage as Stoke City face Sheffield United 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 0 - 2 Sheffield United FC
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:58Match ends, Stoke City 0, Sheffield United 2.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:55Second Half ends, Stoke City 0, Sheffield United 2.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:55Foul by Lynden Gooch (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:53Attempt missed. Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:51Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:51Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Sydie Peck.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:51Substitution, Sheffield United. Anel Ahmedhodzic replaces Callum O'Hare.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:49Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Jack Robinson.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:47Goal! Stoke City 0, Sheffield United 2. Andre Brooks (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Sydie Peck.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:47Substitution, Sheffield United. Andre Brooks replaces Rhian Brewster.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:47Substitution, Stoke City. Lewis Koumas replaces Million Manhoef.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:45Substitution, Stoke City. Josh Wilson-Esbrand replaces Junior Tchamadeu because of an injury.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:45Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:43Delay in match because of an injury Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:41Foul by Ali Al-Hamadi (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:41Jack Robinson (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:41Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Vinicius Souza.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:41Attempt blocked. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bosun Lawal.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:40Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Hamza Choudhury.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:39Attempt missed. Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box following a set piece situation.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:37Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:36Attempt saved. Ali Al-Hamadi (Stoke City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Bosun Lawal.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:35Foul by Sydie Peck (Sheffield United).
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:32Attempt saved. Ali Al-Hamadi (Stoke City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Lewis Baker with a cross.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:32Substitution, Stoke City. Ali Al-Hamadi replaces Bae Jun-Ho.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:31Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Michael Cooper.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:30Foul by Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United).
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:29Attempt missed. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) left footed shot from outside the box.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:25Substitution, Sheffield United. Sydie Peck replaces Femi Seriki.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:25Substitution, Sheffield United. Thomas Cannon replaces Tyrese Campbell.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:25Substitution, Sheffield United. Harrison Burrows replaces Sam McCallum.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:24Jack Robinson (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:22Foul by Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United).
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:21Foul by Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United).
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:21Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:18Viktor Johansson (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:18Delay in match because of an injury Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United).
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:15Ben Wilmot (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:15Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:14Foul by Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United).
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:14Attempt missed. Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:13Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Femi Seriki.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:13Foul by Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United).
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:13Offside, Stoke City. Sam Gallagher is caught offside.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:11Offside, Stoke City. Bosun Lawal is caught offside.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:10Sam McCallum (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:15Attempt missed. Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Femi Seriki with a cross.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:09Attempt missed. Rob Holding (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box following a set piece situation.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:06Femi Seriki (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:06Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
21:05Second Half begins Stoke City 0, Sheffield United 1.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:49First Half ends, Stoke City 0, Sheffield United 1.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:49Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:48Michael Cooper (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:47Attempt missed. Wouter Burger (Stoke City) header from the centre of the box.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:47Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:44Attempt missed. Lewis Baker (Stoke City) left footed shot from outside the box.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:44Foul by Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United).
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:43Foul by Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United).
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:43Attempt missed. Sam McCallum (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a set piece situation.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:41Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:40Goal! Stoke City 0, Sheffield United 1. Sam McCallum (Sheffield United) header from the left side of the six yard box to the top left corner following a corner.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:42Attempt missed. Rob Holding (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box following a corner.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:38Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Ashley Phillips.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:36Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Jack Robinson.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:33Substitution, Stoke City. Bosun Lawal replaces Ben Pearson because of an injury.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:31Attempt saved. Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Callum O'Hare.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:30Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:29Foul by Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United).
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:28Offside, Stoke City. Sam Gallagher is caught offside.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:28Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:28Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:26Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) has gone down, but the referee deems it simulation.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:26Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:23Delay in match because of an injury Ben Pearson (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:23Ben Pearson (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:23Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:23Attempt blocked. Lewis Baker (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:19Attempt saved. Jack Robinson (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:19Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Junior Tchamadeu.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:17Attempt saved. Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:19Attempt blocked. Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Vinicius Souza.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:15Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Ashley Phillips.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:15Attempt blocked. Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kieffer Moore.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:14Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:13Foul by Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:13Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:13Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:12Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:13Delay in match because of an injury Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:12Attempt saved. Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Callum O'Hare.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:09Jack Robinson (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:07Foul by Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United).
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:07Attempt blocked. Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:07Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Kieffer Moore.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:03Offside, Sheffield United. Vinicius Souza is caught offside.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
20:01First Half begins.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
19:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Stoke City vs Sheffield United
18:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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