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Follow live coverage as Watford 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.
Watford FC 0 - 1 Preston North End FC
Watford vs Preston North End
20:36First Half ends, Watford 0, Preston North End 1.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:36Attempt missed. Jeremy Ngakia (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Edo Kayembe.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:33Foul by Rocco Vata (Watford).
Watford vs Preston North End
20:33Festy Ebosele (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:33Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:33Edo Kayembe (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:33Foul by Vakoun Bayo (Watford).
Watford vs Preston North End
20:27Foul by Vakoun Bayo (Watford).
Watford vs Preston North End
20:27Moussa Sissoko (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:27Imrân Louza (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:24Offside, Preston North End. Milutin Osmajic is caught offside.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:23Attempt missed. Rocco Vata (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:22Attempt missed. Milutin Osmajic (Preston North End) right footed shot from the right side of the box.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:18Attempt missed. Lewis Gibson (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box following a corner.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:17Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Jeremy Ngakia.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:17Foul by Mattie Pollock (Watford).
Watford vs Preston North End
20:17Attempt blocked. Ali McCann (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:17Attempt saved. Ali McCann (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mads Frökjaer-Jensen.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:15Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:13Delay in match because of an injury Milutin Osmajic (Preston North End).
Watford vs Preston North End
20:13Jordan Storey (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:13Rocco Vata (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:13Edo Kayembe (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:13Attempt blocked. Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:07Corner, Watford. Conceded by Andrew Hughes.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:05Foul by Jeremy Ngakia (Watford).
Watford vs Preston North End
20:03Goal! Watford 0, Preston North End 1. Milutin Osmajic (Preston North End) right footed shot from very close range.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:01Attempt missed. Ryan Ledson (Preston North End) right footed shot from more than 35 yards.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:01Substitution, Watford. Festy Ebosele replaces Kwadwo Baah because of an injury.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:01Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Watford vs Preston North End
20:01Delay in match because of an injury Kwadwo Baah (Watford).
Watford vs Preston North End
19:58Foul by Stefán Thórdarson (Preston North End).
Watford vs Preston North End
19:57Attempt blocked. Milutin Osmajic (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Ledson.
Watford vs Preston North End
19:54Foul by Ryan Ledson (Preston North End).
Watford vs Preston North End
19:52Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Watford vs Preston North End
19:52Delay in match because of an injury Stefán Thórdarson (Preston North End).
Watford vs Preston North End
19:51Stefán Thórdarson (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Watford vs Preston North End
19:47Foul by Francisco Sierralta (Watford).
Watford vs Preston North End
19:48Milutin Osmajic (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Watford vs Preston North End
19:47Foul by Jayden Meghoma (Preston North End).
Watford vs Preston North End
19:46First Half begins.
Watford vs Preston North End
19:15Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Watford vs Preston North End
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