Follow live coverage as Blackburn Rovers face Stoke 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.
Blackburn Rovers FC 0 - 2 Stoke City FC
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:41Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 0, Stoke City 2.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:39Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 0, Stoke City 2.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:43Attempt blocked. Harry Leonard (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum Brittain with a cross.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:36Attempt missed. Harry Leonard (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:36Attempt missed. Andreas Weimann (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:36Attempt blocked. Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Todd Cantwell.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:35Foul by Harry Leonard (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:33Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Enda Stevens.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:33Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:32Todd Cantwell (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:32Callum Brittain (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:32Substitution, Stoke City. Niall Ennis replaces Thomas Cannon.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:32Substitution, Stoke City. Eric-Junior Bocat replaces Bae Jun-Ho.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:32Substitution, Stoke City. André Vidigal replaces Million Manhoef.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:29Attempt missed. Harry Leonard (Blackburn Rovers) header from very close range.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:27Goal! Blackburn Rovers 0, Stoke City 2. Thomas Cannon (Stoke City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:27Penalty conceded by Danny Batth (Blackburn Rovers) after a foul in the penalty area.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:27Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Harry Leonard replaces Lewis Travis.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:24Attempt saved. Andreas Weimann (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:22Attempt missed. Makhtar Gueye (Blackburn Rovers) header from very close range.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:22Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Bae Jun-Ho.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:22Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:22Substitution, Stoke City. Michael Rose replaces Andrew Moran.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:22Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Makhtar Gueye replaces Yuki Ohashi.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:22Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:19Foul by Danny Batth (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:22Attempt saved. Andreas Weimann (Blackburn Rovers) header from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:18Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:16Delay in match because of an injury Ashley Phillips (Stoke City).
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:16Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Enda Stevens.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:15Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Lewis Travis.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:16Attempt blocked. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:27Attempt saved. Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:14Attempt missed. Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a corner.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:13Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Viktor Johansson.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:13Attempt saved. Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:12Foul by Dominic Hyam (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:12Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Ashley Phillips.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:09Wouter Burger (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:08Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:08Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Tyrhys Dolan replaces Ryan Hedges.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:08Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Aynsley Pears.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:08Attempt saved. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Andrew Moran.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:08Attempt blocked. Todd Cantwell (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Hedges.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:05Attempt blocked. Thomas Cannon (Stoke City) right footed shot from very close range is blocked.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
21:04Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Enda Stevens.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:59Goal! Blackburn Rovers 0, Stoke City 1. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) left footed shot from the left side of the box.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:58Substitution, Stoke City. Tatsuki Seko replaces Lewis Koumas.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:57Andreas Weimann (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:54Attempt blocked. Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:53Todd Cantwell (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:51Attempt blocked. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:51Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Yuki Ohashi is caught offside.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:51Attempt saved. Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ryan Hedges.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:47Second Half begins Blackburn Rovers 0, Stoke City 0.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:33First Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 0, Stoke City 0.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:31Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:31Foul by Sondre Tronstad (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:31Foul by Ryan Hedges (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:30Attempt missed. Yuki Ohashi (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Ryan Hedges.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:30Attempt saved. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Enda Stevens.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:29Attempt blocked. Lewis Koumas (Stoke City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andrew Moran.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:25Todd Cantwell (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:23Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Todd Cantwell is caught offside.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:21Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Yuki Ohashi is caught offside.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:21Attempt blocked. Yuki Ohashi (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Harry Pickering.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:18Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Andrew Moran.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:18Attempt missed. Sondre Tronstad (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:17Attempt missed. Todd Cantwell (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the right side of the box following a fast break.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:16Attempt saved. Andreas Weimann (Blackburn Rovers) header from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Hedges with a cross.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:14Todd Cantwell (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:13Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Dominic Hyam.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:12Attempt saved. Yuki Ohashi (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box is saved.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:11Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Junior Tchamadeu.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:11Attempt blocked. Ryan Hedges (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andreas Weimann with a through ball.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:10Attempt blocked. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Junior Tchamadeu.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:08Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Danny Batth.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:08Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Yuki Ohashi is caught offside.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:06Offside, Stoke City. Thomas Cannon is caught offside.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:06Attempt blocked. Todd Cantwell (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Yuki Ohashi.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:02Attempt missed. Ryan Hedges (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:01Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Junior Tchamadeu.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:00Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:00Delay in match (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
20:00Attempt saved. Yuki Ohashi (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Todd Cantwell with a through ball.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
19:54Foul by Sondre Tronstad (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
19:54Attempt blocked. Andreas Weimann (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum Brittain with a cross.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
19:52Foul by Ben Gibson (Stoke City).
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
19:49Attempt missed. Wouter Burger (Stoke City) header from very close range misses to the left following a corner.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
19:48Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Harry Pickering.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
19:48Attempt blocked. Andrew Moran (Stoke City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Thomas Cannon.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
19:47Foul by Danny Batth (Blackburn Rovers).
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
19:46First Half begins.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
19:15Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
17:45Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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