Follow live coverage as West Bromwich Albion face Oxford United 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.
West Bromwich Albion FC 2 - 0 Oxford United FC
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
17:05Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 2, Oxford United 0.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
17:02Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 2, Oxford United 0.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
17:01Goal! West Bromwich Albion 2, Oxford United 0. John Swift (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from outside the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Tammer Bany following a fast break.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
17:01Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Darnell Furlong.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
17:04Attempt missed. Michal Helik (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
17:01Attempt blocked. Michal Helik (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Stanley Mills.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:57Darnell Furlong (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:56Foul by Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion).
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:56Joe Bennett went off injured after Oxford United had used all subs.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:56Delay over. They are ready to continue.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:56Delay in match because of an injury Joe Bennett (Oxford United).
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:54Offside, Oxford United. Stanley Mills is caught offside.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:52Will Lankshear (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:52Fourth official has announced 9 minutes of added time.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:52Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Tammer Bany replaces Mikey Johnston.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:52Substitution, Oxford United. Mark Harris replaces Ole Romeny.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:52Substitution, Oxford United. Hidde ter Avest replaces Peter Kioso.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:46Attempt missed. Darnell Furlong (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:52Delay over. They are ready to continue.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:46Delay in match (Oxford United).
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:50Delay in match (West Bromwich Albion).
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:49Attempt blocked. Darnell Furlong (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:45Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Peter Kioso.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:45Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Joe Bennett.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:44Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:44Attempt blocked. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:43Delay over. They are ready to continue.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:42Delay in match because of an injury Stanley Mills (Oxford United).
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:42Callum Styles (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:42Foul by Callum Styles (West Bromwich Albion).
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:42Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Grady Diangana replaces Tom Fellows.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:40Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Will Lankshear replaces Adam Armstrong.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:39Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. John Swift replaces Isaac Price.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:39Offside, Oxford United. Peter Kioso is caught offside.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:35Substitution, Oxford United. Siriki Dembélé replaces Przemyslaw Placheta.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:33Foul by Torbjørn Heggem (West Bromwich Albion).
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:33Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:31Attempt missed. Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:30Attempt missed. Mason Holgate (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Isaac Price with a cross following a corner.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:29Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Jamie Cumming.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:30Attempt saved. Alex Mowatt (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Mikey Johnston.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:29Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:26Foul by Darnell Furlong (West Bromwich Albion).
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:25Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Mikey Johnston is caught offside.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:26Attempt missed. Stanley Mills (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box following a corner.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:25Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Mason Holgate.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:25Substitution, Oxford United. Stanley Mills replaces Matt Phillips.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:25Substitution, Oxford United. Will Vaulks replaces Alex Matos.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:23Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Mikey Johnston is caught offside.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:21Attempt missed. Darnell Furlong (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:21Delay over. They are ready to continue.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:20Delay in match (West Bromwich Albion).
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:20Alex Matos (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:20Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:20Foul by Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion).
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:17Attempt missed. Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from long range on the right is close, but misses the top right corner from a direct free kick.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:16Foul by Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United).
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:16Darnell Furlong (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:13Alex Mowatt (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:12Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Peter Kioso.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:10Attempt missed. Adam Armstrong (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:10Peter Kioso (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:09Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:07Attempt missed. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
16:05Second Half begins West Bromwich Albion 1, Oxford United 0.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:50First Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Oxford United 0.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:49Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Joe Bennett.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:50Attempt blocked. Adam Armstrong (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:48Alex Mowatt (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:48Foul by Alex Mowatt (West Bromwich Albion).
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:46Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:46Attempt blocked. Tom Fellows (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jayson Molumby.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:44Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Jamie Cumming.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:45Attempt saved. Adam Armstrong (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:43Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Mason Holgate replaces Semi Ajayi because of an injury.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:43Delay over. They are ready to continue.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:43Delay in match because of an injury Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion).
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:36Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Mikey Johnston is caught offside.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:32Attempt missed. Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box following a corner.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:32Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Alex Matos.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:32Attempt blocked. Adam Armstrong (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tom Fellows.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:33Attempt blocked. Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:28Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Cameron Brannagan.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:28Attempt blocked. Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Mowatt.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:28Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:22Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:23Foul by Alex Mowatt (West Bromwich Albion).
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:22Attempt missed. Callum Styles (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:20Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Peter Kioso.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:20Attempt saved. Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Darnell Furlong with a cross.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:18Adam Armstrong (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:17Attempt missed. Adam Armstrong (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Isaac Price.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:15Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Alex Matos.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:15Attempt blocked. Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:15Foul by Tom Fellows (West Bromwich Albion).
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:13Goal! West Bromwich Albion 1, Oxford United 0. Alex Mowatt (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Isaac Price with a through ball.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:12Foul by Matt Phillips (Oxford United).
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:08Attempt missed. Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Isaac Price with a cross following a corner.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:07Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Joe Bennett.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United
15:07Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Peter Kioso.
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website
