Follow live coverage as Sunderland face Coventry 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 - 2 Coventry City FC
Sunderland vs Coventry City
17:00Match ends, Sunderland 2, Coventry City 2.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:58Second Half ends, Sunderland 2, Coventry City 2.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:58Norman Bassette (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:58Attempt missed. Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Luke O'Nien.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:58Foul by Norman Bassette (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:58Tatsuhiro Sakamoto (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:58Foul by Tatsuhiro Sakamoto (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:58Offside, Sunderland. Aaron Connolly is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:56Fourth official has announced 9 minutes of added time.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:55Substitution, Coventry City. Ephron Mason-Clark replaces Haji Wright because of an injury.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:53Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:52Delay in match because of an injury Haji Wright (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:52Foul by Haji Wright (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:46Joel Latibeaudiere (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:44Goal! Sunderland 2, Coventry City 2. Jack Rudoni (Coventry City) header from the right side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Tatsuhiro Sakamoto with a cross.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:43Attempt saved. Aaron Connolly (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:40Substitution, Sunderland. Dan Ballard replaces Alan Browne because of an injury.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:40Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:40Delay in match because of an injury Alan Browne (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:40Substitution, Coventry City. Tatsuhiro Sakamoto replaces Jay Dasilva.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:40Foul by Liam Kitching (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:40Substitution, Sunderland. Aaron Connolly replaces Romaine Mundle because of an injury.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:37Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:37Delay in match because of an injury Alan Browne (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:35Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Patrick Roberts.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:35Attempt blocked. Jack Rudoni (Coventry City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:32Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Trai Hume.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:32Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Simon Moore.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:33Attempt saved. Norman Bassette (Coventry City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:32Attempt missed. Haji Wright (Coventry City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Victor Torp with a headed pass.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:32Luis Binks (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:31Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:27Trai Hume (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:27Delay in match because of an injury Bobby Thomas (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:27Bobby Thomas (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:27Substitution, Coventry City. Norman Bassette replaces Brandon Thomas-Asante.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:25Joel Latibeaudiere (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:25Goal! Sunderland 2, Coventry City 1. Haji Wright (Coventry City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:20Foul by Liam Kitching (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:19Foul by Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:19Milan van Ewijk (Coventry City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:19Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:19Delay in match (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:15Offside, Coventry City. Jay Dasilva is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:15Milan van Ewijk (Coventry City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:14Foul by Chris Mepham (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:14Chris Rigg (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:14Foul by Alan Browne (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:14Foul by Romaine Mundle (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:14Attempt missed. Romaine Mundle (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Wilson Isidor.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:14Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:10Attempt blocked. Haji Wright (Coventry City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jay Dasilva.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:05Foul by Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
16:04Second Half begins Sunderland 2, Coventry City 0.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:49First Half ends, Sunderland 2, Coventry City 0.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:48Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:49Chris Rigg (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:48Attempt missed. Romaine Mundle (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Chris Rigg following a fast break.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:45Foul by Luke O'Nien (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:43Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Victor Torp.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:43Attempt missed. Haji Wright (Coventry City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Liam Kitching following a fast break.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:43Attempt blocked. Romaine Mundle (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:39Goal! Sunderland 2, Coventry City 0. Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Romaine Mundle following a fast break.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:37Attempt saved. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Romaine Mundle.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:37Foul by Jay Dasilva (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:37Foul by Haji Wright (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:33Foul by Victor Torp (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:30Foul by Milan van Ewijk (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:27Foul by Jack Rudoni (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:24Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Chris Mepham.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:24Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Luke O'Nien.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:22Haji Wright (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:22Foul by Joel Latibeaudiere (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:22Attempt missed. Jack Rudoni (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Haji Wright.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:22Goal! Sunderland 1, Coventry City 0. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Romaine Mundle with a cross.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:21Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:19Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:17Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:16Delay in match because of an injury Victor Torp (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:15Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Chris Mepham.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:15Attempt saved. Chris Rigg (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:11Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Luis Binks.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:07Foul by Haji Wright (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:06Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Dennis Cirkin.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
15:03First Half begins.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
13:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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