
Follow live coverage as Sunderland face Preston North End 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 - 0 Preston North End FC
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:27Attempt missed. Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Stefán Thórdarson.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:26Attempt missed. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) header from very close range.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:24Attempt missed. Brad Potts (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box following a set piece situation.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:24Stefán Thórdarson (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:22Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Stefán Thórdarson.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:21Attempt missed. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:18Foul by Emil Riis (Preston North End).
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:18Foul by Luke O'Nien (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:15Offside, Preston North End. Emil Riis is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:11Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:10Attempt blocked. Trai Hume (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:10Lewis Gibson (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:10Tom Watson (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:07Foul by Andrew Hughes (Preston North End).
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:05Trai Hume (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:05Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Anthony Patterson.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:05Attempt saved. Jayden Meghoma (Preston North End) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:09Attempt blocked. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jobe Bellingham.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:03Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
20:00Offside, Preston North End. Sam Greenwood is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
19:59Attempt missed. Tom Watson (Sunderland) header from the left side of the six yard box.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
19:55Attempt missed. Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) left footed shot from outside the box.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
19:53Attempt missed. Tom Watson (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
19:53Attempt missed. Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Brad Potts.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
19:51Attempt blocked. Brad Potts (Preston North End) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Stefán Thórdarson.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
19:50Attempt missed. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
19:50Foul by Jayden Meghoma (Preston North End).
Sunderland vs Preston North End
19:49Foul by Emil Riis (Preston North End).
Sunderland vs Preston North End
19:50Attempt missed. Ryan Porteous (Preston North End) header from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Freddie Woodman following a set piece situation.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
19:47Ryan Porteous (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
19:47Foul by Wilson Isidor (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Preston North End
19:46First Half begins.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
19:15Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Sunderland vs Preston North End
17:45Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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