Follow live coverage as Sunderland face Hull 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 0 - 1 Hull City AFC
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:29Match ends, Sunderland 0, Hull City 1.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:28Second Half ends, Sunderland 0, Hull City 1.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:28Attempt missed. Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Trai Hume.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:27Attempt saved. Steven Alzate (Hull City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:27Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:27Foul by Chris Mepham (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:26John Egan (Hull City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:26Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:31Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Dan Neil.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:26Attempt blocked. Gustavo Puerta (Hull City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Gelhardt.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:24Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:21Attempt saved. Trai Hume (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Patrick Roberts.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:18Attempt missed. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Luke O'Nien with a headed pass.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:12Attempt missed. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Trai Hume with a cross.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:12Substitution, Hull City. Regan Slater replaces Eliot Matazo.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:10Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:08Ivor Pandur (Hull City) is shown the yellow card.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:05Attempt missed. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:05Offside, Sunderland. Wilson Isidor is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:05Attempt blocked. Romaine Mundle (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Patrick Roberts.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:03Romaine Mundle (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:03Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:03Substitution, Hull City. John Egan replaces Charlie Hughes because of an injury.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:03Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:01Delay in match because of an injury Charlie Hughes (Hull City).
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:01Substitution, Hull City. João Pedro replaces Matt Crooks.
Sunderland vs Hull City
14:01Substitution, Hull City. Gustavo Puerta replaces Kyle Joseph.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:59Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Joe Gelhardt.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:55Offside, Hull City. Matt Crooks is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:55Attempt blocked. Kyle Joseph (Hull City) right footed shot from very close range is blocked.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:55Attempt saved. Kyle Joseph (Hull City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Joe Gelhardt.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:54Romaine Mundle (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:54Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:54Substitution, Sunderland. Eliezer Mayenda replaces Chris Rigg.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:52Attempt missed. Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:50Attempt missed. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) header from the left side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Trai Hume with a cross.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:50Foul by Luke O'Nien (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:47Offside, Hull City. Kyle Joseph is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:47Attempt blocked. Trai Hume (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Chris Rigg.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:45Romaine Mundle (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:42Offside, Hull City. Lewie Coyle is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:42Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:42Substitution, Sunderland. Chris Mepham replaces Dan Ballard because of an injury.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:40Delay in match because of an injury Dan Ballard (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:40Attempt missed. Steven Alzate (Hull City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:40Attempt blocked. Kyle Joseph (Hull City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Eliot Matazo.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:37Second Half begins Sunderland 0, Hull City 1.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:37Substitution, Sunderland. Romaine Mundle replaces Enzo Le Fée.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:22First Half ends, Sunderland 0, Hull City 1.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:20Attempt missed. Dan Ballard (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Patrick Roberts with a cross following a corner.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:20Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Joe Gelhardt.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:20Attempt blocked. Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:18Attempt saved. Dan Ballard (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Enzo Le Fée.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:18Attempt blocked. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Luke O'Nien.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:17Eliot Matazo (Hull City) is shown the yellow card.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:17Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:16Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:16Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Sean McLoughlin.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:16Dan Ballard (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:16Trai Hume (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:12Attempt missed. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:12Offside, Hull City. Kyle Joseph is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:12Substitution, Hull City. Lincoln replaces Louie Barry because of an injury.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:10Foul by Trai Hume (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:10Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:10Delay in match because of an injury Louie Barry (Hull City).
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:06Trai Hume (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:06Foul by Louie Barry (Hull City).
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:01Hand ball by Louie Barry (Hull City).
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:00Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:58Delay in match because of an injury Ivor Pandur (Hull City).
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:57Offside, Sunderland. Dan Neil is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:57Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sunderland vs Hull City
13:23Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Luke O'Nien.
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:54Attempt blocked. Kyle Joseph (Hull City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lewie Coyle with a cross.
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:52Foul by Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:52Joe Gelhardt (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:49Own Goal by Anthony Patterson, Sunderland. Sunderland 0, Hull City 1.
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:49Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Luke O'Nien.
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:47Charlie Hughes (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:47Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Charlie Hughes.
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:45Attempt saved. Joe Gelhardt (Hull City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:41Foul by Patrick Roberts (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:38Attempt blocked. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Enzo Le Fée.
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:38Attempt blocked. Chris Rigg (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Patrick Roberts.
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:35Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Eliot Matazo.
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:33Attempt blocked. Chris Rigg (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:32Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:33Foul by Joe Gelhardt (Hull City).
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:31First Half begins.
Sunderland vs Hull City
12:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Sunderland vs Hull City
10:30Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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