Follow live coverage as Sunderland face Cardiff 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.
Sunderland AFC 2 - 1 Cardiff City FC
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:56Match ends, Sunderland 2, Cardiff City 1.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:55Second Half ends, Sunderland 2, Cardiff City 1.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:55Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:55Delay in match because of an injury Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:52Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:52Attempt missed. Tom Watson (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Wilson Isidor following a fast break.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:52Attempt blocked. Tom Watson (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:55Attempt blocked. Tom Watson (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:46Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:46Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:44Substitution, Cardiff City. Cian Ashford replaces Sivert Mannsverk.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:42Foul by Tom Watson (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:40Goal! Sunderland 2, Cardiff City 1. Chris Mepham (Sunderland) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Wilson Isidor following a set piece situation.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:55Attempt missed. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:37Dan Neil (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:37Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:37Substitution, Sunderland. Tom Watson replaces Romaine Mundle.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:37Substitution, Cardiff City. Will Fish replaces Callum Robinson.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:37Substitution, Cardiff City. Alex Robertson replaces Calum Chambers.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:58Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:37Delay in match (Cardiff City).
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:58Delay in match (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:36Attempt blocked. Romaine Mundle (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:36Joel Bagan (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:35Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:34Attempt blocked. Callum Robinson (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:29Attempt saved. Chris Rigg (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Romaine Mundle with a cross.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:28Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Dennis Cirkin.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:29Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Dimitrios Goutas.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:28Foul by Romaine Mundle (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:28Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:28Calum Chambers (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:25Foul by Calum Chambers (Cardiff City).
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:23Offside, Sunderland. Wilson Isidor is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:21Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:20Substitution, Cardiff City. Will Alves replaces Isaak Davies.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:20Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:20Foul by Luke O'Nien (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:20Substitution, Sunderland. Wilson Isidor replaces Alan Browne.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:20Substitution, Sunderland. Dennis Cirkin replaces Leo Hjelde.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:20Leo Hjelde (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:16Foul by Leo Hjelde (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:16Isaak Davies (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:16Yousef Salech (Cardiff City) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Rubin Colwill.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:16Attempt saved. Chris Rigg (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Eliezer Mayenda.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:12Foul by Trai Hume (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:10Leo Hjelde (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:08Trai Hume (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:10Foul by Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City).
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:10Attempt missed. Dimitrios Goutas (Cardiff City) header from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Rubin Colwill with a cross following a set piece situation.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:08Foul by Romaine Mundle (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
16:06Second Half begins Sunderland 1, Cardiff City 1.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:53First Half ends, Sunderland 1, Cardiff City 1.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:53Alan Browne (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:51Hand ball by Chris Mepham (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:48Offside, Sunderland. Eliezer Mayenda is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:48Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:49Attempt missed. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jobe Bellingham.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:44Chris Rigg (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:43Goal! Sunderland 1, Cardiff City 1. Isaak Davies (Cardiff City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the centre of the goal.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:43Attempt saved. Romaine Mundle (Sunderland) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Chris Rigg.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:43Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Leo Hjelde.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:43Foul by Trai Hume (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:43Foul by Leo Hjelde (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:36Romaine Mundle (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:34Hand ball by Yousef Salech (Cardiff City).
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:33Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Isaak Davies.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:31Attempt missed. Callum Robinson (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:28Trai Hume (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:33Attempt blocked. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Romaine Mundle.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:28Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:28Substitution, Sunderland. Chris Rigg replaces Patrick Roberts because of an injury.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:24Delay in match because of an injury Patrick Roberts (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:23Trai Hume (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:24Attempt missed. Alan Browne (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box following a corner.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:23Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Calum Chambers.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:23Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Perry Ng.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:28Attempt blocked. Romaine Mundle (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:27Attempt missed. Alan Browne (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Trai Hume with a cross.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:18Attempt blocked. Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:23Attempt missed. Trai Hume (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:23Attempt blocked. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Romaine Mundle.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:22Attempt blocked. Romaine Mundle (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Eliezer Mayenda.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:13Foul by Callum O'Dowda (Cardiff City).
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:16Trai Hume (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:22Attempt blocked. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:07Attempt blocked. Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:05Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Chris Mepham.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:04Goal! Sunderland 1, Cardiff City 0. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Patrick Roberts.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
15:01First Half begins.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Sunderland vs Cardiff City
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