Follow live coverage as Stoke City face Cardiff 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.
Stoke City FC 1 - 0 Cardiff City FC
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:30
Foul by Joe Ralls (Cardiff City).
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:28
Attempt blocked. Chris Willock (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:28
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:27
Delay in match because of an injury Ashley Phillips (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:25
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Tatsuki Seko.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:24
Andrew Moran (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:24
Foul by Andrew Moran (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:21
Offside, Stoke City. Thomas Cannon is caught offside.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:20
Attempt missed. Andrew Moran (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:18
Goal! Stoke City 1, Cardiff City 0. Andrew Moran (Stoke City) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:18
Attempt saved. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Andrew Moran.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:17
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:17
Delay in match because of an injury Eric-Junior Bocat (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:15
Delay in match because of an injury Anwar El Ghazi (Cardiff City).
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:15
Foul by Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:13
Attempt saved. Andy Rinomhota (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:11
Andy Rinomhota (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:11
Attempt missed. Calum Chambers (Cardiff City) header from the right side of the six yard box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Dimitrios Goutas following a corner.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:09
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Eric-Junior Bocat.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:09
Attempt blocked. Anwar El Ghazi (Cardiff City) right footed shot from long range on the left is blocked.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:07
Foul by Ashley Phillips (Stoke City).
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:09
Chris Willock (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:04
Attempt missed. Andrew Moran (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:03
Attempt missed. Thomas Cannon (Stoke City) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Eric-Junior Bocat with a through ball.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
15:01
First Half begins.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
14:30
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Stoke City vs Cardiff City
13:00
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