Follow live coverage as Stoke City face Sunderland 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 Sunderland AFC
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:56Match ends, Stoke City 1, Sunderland 0.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:55Second Half ends, Stoke City 1, Sunderland 0.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:55Offside, Sunderland. Luke O'Nien is caught offside.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:55Attempt saved. Chris Mepham (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Patrick Roberts.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:55Thomas Cannon (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:52Goal! Stoke City 1, Sunderland 0. Thomas Cannon (Stoke City) left footed shot from outside the box.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:50Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:51Attempt missed. Trai Hume (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:50Attempt missed. Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland) left footed shot from the left side of the box.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:49Attempt missed. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:46Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:46Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:46Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:46Substitution, Stoke City. Michael Rose replaces Ashley Phillips.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:46Substitution, Stoke City. Enda Stevens replaces Lynden Gooch because of an injury.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:46Delay in match because of an injury Lynden Gooch (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:44Attempt saved. Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:46Attempt missed. Aji Alese (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Patrick Roberts with a cross following a corner.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:44Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Wouter Burger.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:46Attempt blocked. Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dan Neil.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:44Aji Alese (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:43Attempt blocked. Lewis Koumas (Stoke City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:38Foul by Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland).
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:38Attempt missed. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) header from the left side of the six yard box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Patrick Roberts with a cross following a corner.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:37Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Lynden Gooch.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:37Substitution, Sunderland. Aaron Connolly replaces Eliezer Mayenda.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:37Attempt blocked. Dan Neil (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Patrick Roberts.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:37Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Junior Tchamadeu.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:33Attempt missed. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:32Substitution, Stoke City. Sam Gallagher replaces Andrew Moran.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:32Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:32Tatsuki Seko (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:30Foul by Wouter Burger (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:28Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:28Substitution, Sunderland. Patrick Roberts replaces Milan Aleksic.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:28Substitution, Sunderland. Aji Alese replaces Dennis Cirkin.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:28Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Tatsuki Seko.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:28Attempt blocked. Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dan Neil.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:26Attempt blocked. Lewis Koumas (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:23Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Chris Mepham.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:23Attempt saved. Lewis Koumas (Stoke City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Thomas Cannon with a headed pass.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:17Offside, Stoke City. Junior Tchamadeu is caught offside.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:19Attempt blocked. Tatsuki Seko (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:16Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Luke O'Nien.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:16Milan Aleksic (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:14Attempt missed. Andrew Moran (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:13Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Ashley Phillips.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:13Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:11Foul by Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland).
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:13Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:11Foul by Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland).
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:10Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Junior Tchamadeu.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:10Attempt blocked. Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:08Dan Neil (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:10Attempt blocked. Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:07Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
16:05Second Half begins Stoke City 0, Sunderland 0.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:51First Half ends, Stoke City 0, Sunderland 0.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:51Attempt missed. Ben Wilmot (Stoke City) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Bae Jun-Ho with a cross following a corner.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:51Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Chris Mepham.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:51Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:51Attempt missed. Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Wilson Isidor following a fast break.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:51Viktor Johansson (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:49Foul by Milan Aleksic (Sunderland).
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:48Attempt blocked. Chris Mepham (Sunderland) right footed shot from very close range is blocked.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:48Attempt blocked. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Adil Aouchiche with a cross.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:47Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Ashley Phillips.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:47Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Viktor Johansson.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:47Attempt saved. Trai Hume (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Dan Neil.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:46Attempt saved. Lewis Koumas (Stoke City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Thomas Cannon with a through ball.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:45Attempt saved. Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jobe Bellingham.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:43Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Lynden Gooch.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:39Foul by Tatsuki Seko (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:37Dan Neil (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:36Attempt saved. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:35Foul by Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:35Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Lynden Gooch.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:35Attempt saved. Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:33Offside, Stoke City. Thomas Cannon is caught offside.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:33Attempt missed. Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Tatsuki Seko.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:33Attempt saved. Milan Aleksic (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Wilson Isidor.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:30Andrew Moran (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:29Foul by Andrew Moran (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:26Foul by Wouter Burger (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:25Lewis Koumas (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:23Lynden Gooch (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:23Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:22Foul by Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland).
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:22Ashley Phillips (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:20Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Ashley Phillips.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:20Attempt blocked. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Adil Aouchiche.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:18Foul by Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland).
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:20Tatsuki Seko (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:18Ashley Phillips (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:18Foul by Ashley Phillips (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:17Foul by Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:17Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:16Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Trai Hume.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:16Thomas Cannon (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Sunderland
15:15Foul by Ashley Phillips (Stoke City).
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