Follow live coverage as Blackburn Rovers face Sheffield 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.
Blackburn Rovers FC 0 - 2 Sheffield United FC
Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
12:50Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Joe Rankin-Costello.
Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
12:50Foul by Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
12:47Goal! Blackburn Rovers 0, Sheffield United 1. Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner.
Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
12:48Attempt missed. Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
12:46Foul by Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
12:44Attempt blocked. Oliver Arblaster (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Vinicius Souza.
Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
12:44Attempt blocked. Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
12:42Hand ball by Dominic Hyam (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
12:41Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Owen Beck is caught offside.
Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
12:41Attempt blocked. Yuki Ohashi (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Hedges.
Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
12:42Attempt blocked. Yuki Ohashi (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Rankin-Costello with a cross.
Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
12:38Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Harrison Burrows.
Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
12:38Foul by Oliver Arblaster (Sheffield United).
Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
12:37Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
12:35Foul by Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United).
Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
12:31First Half begins.
Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
12:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United
10:30Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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