Follow live coverage as Preston North End face Bristol 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.
Preston North End FC 1 - 3 Bristol City FC
Preston North End vs Bristol City
17:16Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
17:13Delay in match because of an injury Joe Williams (Bristol City).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
17:26Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
17:20Delay in match because of an injury Max Bird (Bristol City).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
17:10Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
17:20Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
17:11Delay in match because of an injury Joe Williams (Bristol City).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
17:06Liam Lindsay (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
17:10Foul by Sam Greenwood (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:57Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:56Substitution, Bristol City. Haydon Roberts replaces George Tanner because of an injury.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
17:04Delay in match because of an injury George Tanner (Bristol City).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:59Attempt missed. Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top right corner following a corner.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
17:06Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Mark Sykes.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
17:05Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by George Tanner.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
17:02Attempt blocked. Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
17:02Attempt blocked. Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ali McCann.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:55Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
17:02Delay in match (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:59Liam Lindsay (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:58Foul by Ali McCann (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:56Attempt blocked. Brad Potts (Preston North End) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked. Assisted by Emil Riis.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:56Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:56Foul by Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:56Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:55Goal! Preston North End 0, Bristol City 1. Yu Hirakawa (Bristol City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left to the centre of the goal.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:55Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:55First Half begins.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:55Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
13:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
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