Follow live coverage as Sunderland face Watford 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.
Sunderland AFC 1 - 1 Watford FC
Sunderland vs Watford
13:20
First Half ends, Sunderland 1, Watford 1.
Sunderland vs Watford
13:19
Attempt missed. Ryan Andrews (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the box.
Sunderland vs Watford
13:17
Foul by Mamadou Doumbia (Watford).
Sunderland vs Watford
13:17
Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Sunderland vs Watford
13:14
Goal! Sunderland 1, Watford 1. Tom Dele-Bashiru (Watford) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Sunderland vs Watford
13:14
Penalty Watford. Mamadou Doumbia draws a foul in the penalty area.
Sunderland vs Watford
13:14
Attempt saved. Mamadou Doumbia (Watford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Yasser Larouci with a cross.
Sunderland vs Watford
13:12
Attempt missed. Edo Kayembe (Watford) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Yasser Larouci.
Sunderland vs Watford
13:12
Foul by Trai Hume (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Watford
13:10
Attempt missed. Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) header from the right side of the box.
Sunderland vs Watford
13:09
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Mattie Pollock.
Sunderland vs Watford
13:09
Attempt blocked. Chris Rigg (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Watford
13:06
Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.
Sunderland vs Watford
13:06
James Abankwah (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Watford
13:05
Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Watford
13:04
Mamadou Doumbia (Watford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sunderland vs Watford
13:04
Mamadou Doumbia (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Watford
13:04
Foul by Mamadou Doumbia (Watford).
Sunderland vs Watford
13:01
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by James Abankwah.
Sunderland vs Watford
13:00
Ryan Andrews (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Watford
12:56
Attempt missed. Moussa Sissoko (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box.
Sunderland vs Watford
12:56
Attempt blocked. Imrân Louza (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Watford
12:50
Attempt saved. Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Sunderland vs Watford
12:49
Foul by James Abankwah (Watford).
Sunderland vs Watford
12:48
Goal! Sunderland 1, Watford 0. Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Trai Hume following a corner.
Sunderland vs Watford
12:46
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Moussa Sissoko.
Sunderland vs Watford
12:47
Attempt blocked. Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Watford
12:46
Foul by James Abankwah (Watford).
Sunderland vs Watford
12:46
Attempt blocked. Imrân Louza (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Watford
12:43
Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Watford
12:43
Foul by Yasser Larouci (Watford).
Sunderland vs Watford
12:45
Attempt blocked. Mattie Pollock (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Watford
12:41
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Dennis Cirkin.
Sunderland vs Watford
12:41
Attempt blocked. Trai Hume (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Enzo Le Fée with a cross.
Sunderland vs Watford
12:39
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by James Abankwah.
Sunderland vs Watford
12:38
Attempt saved. Chris Rigg (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Sunderland vs Watford
12:32
First Half begins.
Sunderland vs Watford
12:00
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Sunderland vs Watford
10:30
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