Follow live coverage as Southampton 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 Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton 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 newly-promoted Birmingham City and Wrexham, with a host of hopefuls eyeing up the £200m jackpot that comes with promotion to the top flight. At the other end of the table, Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City hope to stay up amid crises.
Follow updates from today’s game in the live blog below.
Southampton FC 0 - 1 Preston North End FC
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:43
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Liam Lindsay.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:42
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Liam Lindsay.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:42
Finn Azaz (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:39
Goal! Southampton 0, Preston North End 1. Lewis Dobbin (Preston North End) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:38
Attempt saved. Lewis Dobbin (Preston North End) left footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal by Alex McCarthy (Southampton). Assisted by Alfie Devine with a cross.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:38
Attempt missed. Lewis Dobbin (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Alfie Devine following a fast break.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:37
Flynn Downes (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:36
Ryan Manning (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:36
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:35
Delay in match because of an injury Andrew Hughes (Preston North End).
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:35
Foul by Flynn Downes (Southampton).
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:35
Andrew Hughes (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:34
Mads Roerslev (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:34
Jordan Storey (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:33
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:32
Delay in match because of an injury Daniel Iversen (Preston North End).
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:28
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Daniel Iversen.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:28
Attempt saved. Léo Scienza (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Daniel Iversen (Preston North End). Assisted by Caspar Jander.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:28
Léo Scienza (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:24
Attempt missed. Alfie Devine (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Benjamin Whiteman with a through ball.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:24
Léo Scienza (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:20
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:18
Delay in match because of an injury Ryan Manning (Southampton).
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:18
Foul by Caspar Jander (Southampton).
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:18
Nathan Wood (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:16
Alfie Devine (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:43
Attempt blocked. Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Léo Scienza with a cross.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:09
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Jordan Storey.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:07
Léo Scienza (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:04
Offside, Southampton. Adam Armstrong is caught offside.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:04
Ronnie Edwards (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:02
Foul by Mads Roerslev (Southampton).
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:02
Ronnie Edwards (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Preston North End
15:01
First Half begins.
Southampton vs Preston North End
14:30
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Southampton vs Preston North End
13:00
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