Follow live coverage as Sunderland face Norwich 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 Norwich City FC
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:59Match ends, Sunderland 2, Norwich City 1.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:58Second Half ends, Sunderland 2, Norwich City 1.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:57Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:56Offside, Norwich City. Jacob Sørensen is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:56Foul by Dan Neil (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:56Attempt saved. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Adil Aouchiche.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:54Foul by Chris Rigg (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:54Offside, Sunderland. Eliezer Mayenda is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:56Offside, Sunderland. Eliezer Mayenda is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:54Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:47Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Angus Gunn.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:47Attempt saved. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:49Attempt missed. Borja Sainz (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:47Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:47Substitution, Sunderland. Leo Hjelde replaces Dan Ballard because of an injury.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:45Delay in match because of an injury Dan Ballard (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:44Substitution, Sunderland. Aji Alese replaces Dennis Cirkin.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:44Substitution, Sunderland. Adil Aouchiche replaces Wilson Isidor.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:44Attempt saved. Ashley Barnes (Norwich City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Marcelino Núñez.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:44Substitution, Norwich City. Kellen Fisher replaces Anis Ben Slimane.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:44Substitution, Norwich City. Ashley Barnes replaces Shane Duffy.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:44Foul by Ben Chrisene (Norwich City).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:35Jacob Sørensen (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:35Shane Duffy (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:32Substitution, Norwich City. Jacob Sørensen replaces Ante Crnac.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:31Substitution, Norwich City. Ben Chrisene replaces Emiliano Marcondes.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:31Goal! Sunderland 2, Norwich City 1. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Dennis Cirkin following a set piece situation.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:30Second yellow card to José Córdoba (Norwich City) for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:30Foul by José Córdoba (Norwich City).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:30Attempt missed. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a fast break.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:30Substitution, Norwich City. Oscar Schwartau replaces Onel Hernández.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:30Dan Ballard (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:30Anis Ben Slimane (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:29Substitution, Sunderland. Trai Hume replaces Luke O'Nien.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:20Jack Stacey (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:21Foul by Patrick Roberts (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:20Foul by Jack Stacey (Norwich City).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:20Marcelino Núñez (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:20Foul by Marcelino Núñez (Norwich City).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:19Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:19Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:18Anis Ben Slimane (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:17Foul by Emiliano Marcondes (Norwich City).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:14Attempt missed. Ante Crnac (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:12Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Ante Crnac.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:12Callum Doyle (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:11Foul by Callum Doyle (Norwich City).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:12Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:08Chris Mepham (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:08Foul by Dan Neil (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:08Goal! Sunderland 1, Norwich City 1. Dan Ballard (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Eliezer Mayenda with a cross following a set piece situation.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:05Foul by Borja Sainz (Norwich City).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
16:04Second Half begins Sunderland 0, Norwich City 1.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:51First Half ends, Sunderland 0, Norwich City 1.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:49Attempt missed. Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:49Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:45Emiliano Marcondes (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:45Offside, Norwich City. Borja Sainz is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:45Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:45José Córdoba (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:42Foul by José Córdoba (Norwich City).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:42Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:42Foul by Callum Doyle (Norwich City).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:40Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Dan Neil.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:40Marcelino Núñez (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:40Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:40Borja Sainz (Norwich City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:40Foul by Ante Crnac (Norwich City).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:35Emiliano Marcondes (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:34Offside, Sunderland. Wilson Isidor is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:34Borja Sainz (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:31Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Anis Ben Slimane.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:27Attempt missed. Marcelino Núñez (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Anis Ben Slimane.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:24Onel Hernández (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:23Goal! Sunderland 0, Norwich City 1. Anis Ben Slimane (Norwich City) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner following a corner.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:25Attempt blocked. Anis Ben Slimane (Norwich City) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:23Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Anthony Patterson.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:23Attempt saved. Emiliano Marcondes (Norwich City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marcelino Núñez.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:19Foul by Chris Rigg (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:16Offside, Norwich City. Onel Hernández is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:13Dan Ballard (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:10Foul by Jack Stacey (Norwich City).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:07Offside, Norwich City. Borja Sainz is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:05Foul by Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:05Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Callum Doyle.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:05Attempt blocked. Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Chris Rigg.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:03Foul by Marcelino Núñez (Norwich City).
Sunderland vs Norwich City
15:01First Half begins.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Sunderland vs Norwich City
13:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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