Follow live coverage as Middlesbrough face Bristol 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.
Middlesbrough FC 0 - 1 Bristol City FC
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:45
Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:43
Attempt missed. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box following a corner.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:42
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ross McCrorie.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:42
Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:42
Ben Doak (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:40
Foul by Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:34
Goal! Middlesbrough 0, Bristol City 1. Anis Mehmeti (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:32
Attempt blocked. Yu Hirakawa (Bristol City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:32
Foul by Neto Borges (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:29
Attempt missed. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:29
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:27
Delay in match because of an injury Nahki Wells (Bristol City).
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:21
Attempt blocked. Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:20
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Zak Vyner.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:18
Attempt missed. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box following a fast break.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:17
Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:16
Foul by Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:15
Foul by Ross McCrorie (Bristol City).
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:13
Foul by George Edmundson (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:12
Rav van den Berg (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:12
Foul by Rav van den Berg (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:24
Attempt missed. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:08
Attempt missed. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:08
Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:07
Foul by Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
15:02
First Half begins.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
14:30
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
13:00
Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
Whether it's Premier League, Champions League, a European Championship or the World Cup we will keep you up to date with everything you need to know.
We will have all the latest scores, goals and updates plus analysis and reaction throughout the game here.