Follow live coverage as Middlesbrough face Birmingham 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 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.
Middlesbrough FC 2 - 1 Birmingham City FC
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
17:01Match ends, Middlesbrough 2, Birmingham City 1.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
17:01Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 2, Birmingham City 1.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
17:01James Beadle (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
17:01Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Delano Burgzorg.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
17:00Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:55Foul by Callum Brittain (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:52Substitution, Middlesbrough. Delano Burgzorg replaces Tommy Conway.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:51Foul by Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:50Offside, Birmingham City. Lyndon Dykes is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:50Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:50Delay in match because of an injury Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:49Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Sam Silvera.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:47Substitution, Birmingham City. Lyndon Dykes replaces Tomoki Iwata.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:47Substitution, Birmingham City. Lewis Koumas replaces Patrick Roberts.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:47Foul by Kyogo Furuhashi (Birmingham City).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:47Attempt missed. Tomoki Iwata (Birmingham City) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Keshi Anderson with a cross.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:47Attempt saved. Patrick Roberts (Birmingham City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Sol Brynn (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:47Foul by Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:47Foul by Tommy Doyle (Birmingham City).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:47Attempt missed. George McCormick (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Callum Brittain with a cross following a set piece situation.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:44Foul by Marc Leonard (Birmingham City).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:41Patrick Roberts (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:35Offside, Birmingham City. Keshi Anderson is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:34Offside, Middlesbrough. Tommy Conway is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:29Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Aidan Morris.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:28Attempt blocked. Tommy Doyle (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:27Patrick Roberts (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:27Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:27Substitution, Middlesbrough. Sverre Nypan replaces Riley McGree.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:27Substitution, Middlesbrough. Kaly Sène replaces Morgan Whittaker.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:25Substitution, Middlesbrough. George McCormick replaces Matt Targett because of an injury.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:25Delay in match because of an injury Matt Targett (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:23Substitution, Birmingham City. Keshi Anderson replaces Demarai Gray.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:23Substitution, Birmingham City. Kyogo Furuhashi replaces Marvin Ducksch.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:20Foul by Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:23Attempt missed. Tommy Doyle (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:19Attempt missed. Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Demarai Gray.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:17Attempt blocked. Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:16Offside, Middlesbrough. Morgan Whittaker is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:15Attempt saved. Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Sol Brynn (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
16:10Second Half begins Middlesbrough 2, Birmingham City 1.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:55First Half ends, Middlesbrough 2, Birmingham City 1.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:53Goal! Middlesbrough 2, Birmingham City 1. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Aidan Morris.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:54Attempt blocked. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Riley McGree.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:52Foul by Tommy Doyle (Birmingham City).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:50Attempt saved. Sam Silvera (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by James Beadle (Birmingham City). Assisted by Matt Targett.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:50Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:50Foul by Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:44Foul by Callum Brittain (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:43Offside, Birmingham City. Marvin Ducksch is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:43Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Tomoki Iwata.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:43Foul by Phil Neumann (Birmingham City).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:41Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Alex Cochrane.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:39Foul by Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:35Foul by Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:35Offside, Middlesbrough. Tommy Conway is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:35Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:35Goal! Middlesbrough 1, Birmingham City 1. Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal following a corner.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:35Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Sol Brynn.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:33Attempt saved. Patrick Roberts (Birmingham City) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner by Sol Brynn (Middlesbrough). Assisted by Alex Cochrane with a cross.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:33Foul by Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:28Substitution, Middlesbrough. Sam Silvera replaces Dael Fry because of an injury.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:28Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:28Delay in match because of an injury Dael Fry (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:28Attempt missed. Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Alex Cochrane.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:27Attempt blocked. Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jay Stansfield.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:23Foul by Marvin Ducksch (Birmingham City).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:28Attempt saved. Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner by Sol Brynn (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:22Foul by Marc Leonard (Birmingham City).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:22Goal! Middlesbrough 1, Birmingham City 0. Dael Fry (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Callum Brittain with a cross following a corner.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:22Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Demarai Gray.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:22Attempt saved. Alan Browne (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by James Beadle (Birmingham City). Assisted by Luke Ayling.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:22Foul by Demarai Gray (Birmingham City).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:22Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Alan Browne.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:22Attempt blocked. Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marvin Ducksch.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:17Attempt missed. Tomoki Iwata (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Patrick Roberts.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:17Attempt missed. Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Morgan Whittaker.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:15Foul by Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:12Attempt blocked. Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Riley McGree.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:10Christoph Klarer (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:10Substitution, Birmingham City. Marc Leonard replaces Paik Seung-Ho because of an injury.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:07Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:03Delay in match because of an injury Paik Seung-Ho (Birmingham City).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:03Foul by Riley McGree (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
15:02First Half begins.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Middlesbrough vs Birmingham City
13:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
We will have all the latest scores, goals and updates plus analysis and reaction throughout the game here. This season we're bringing you live coverage from every match in the Premier League, WSL, Championship, Carabao Cup and FA Cup from the third round onwards - as well as the best from the Champions League and beyond in Europe.
