Follow live coverage as Preston North End face Sunderland 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 0 - 0 Sunderland AFC
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:57Match ends, Preston North End 0, Sunderland 0.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:54Second Half ends, Preston North End 0, Sunderland 0.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:53Brad Potts (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:51Jack Whatmough (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:51Attempt missed. Dan Neil (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:50Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Freddie Woodman.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:50Attempt saved. Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:49Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:49Alan Browne (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:47Foul by Brad Potts (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:43Brad Potts (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:42Brad Potts (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:41Substitution, Preston North End. Stefán Thórdarson replaces Ali McCann.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:39Substitution, Sunderland. Eliezer Mayenda replaces Wilson Isidor.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:36Foul by Ali McCann (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:36Substitution, Preston North End. Duane Holmes replaces Sam Greenwood.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:36Ali McCann (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:36Attempt blocked. Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:33Substitution, Preston North End. Jack Whatmough replaces Liam Lindsay because of an injury.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:31Foul by Andrew Hughes (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:31Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:31Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:31Delay in match because of an injury Liam Lindsay (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:27Foul by Andrew Hughes (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:26Attempt missed. Chris Rigg (Sunderland) header from the right side of the box following a set piece situation.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:25Foul by Liam Lindsay (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:24Romaine Mundle (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:21Substitution, Sunderland. Patrick Roberts replaces Tom Watson.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:21Substitution, Sunderland. Romaine Mundle replaces Aaron Connolly.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:20Foul by Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:19Liam Lindsay (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:19Foul by Liam Lindsay (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:17Attempt missed. Alan Browne (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right from a direct free kick.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:16Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:16Foul by Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:15Foul by Liam Lindsay (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:13Attempt missed. Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:10Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:09Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Wilson Isidor.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:08Attempt missed. Ali McCann (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Andrew Hughes with a headed pass following a corner.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:08Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Trai Hume.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:08Attempt blocked. Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kaine Kesler-Hayden.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:07Attempt blocked. Tom Watson (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alan Browne.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:06Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Jordan Storey.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:05Jordan Storey (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
21:04Second Half begins Preston North End 0, Sunderland 0.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:48First Half ends, Preston North End 0, Sunderland 0.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:48Attempt missed. Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:47Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Simon Moore.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:47Attempt saved. Emil Riis (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:47Foul by Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:47Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:47Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:47Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:39Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:39Foul by Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:39Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Freddie Woodman.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:39Attempt saved. Aaron Connolly (Sunderland) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Trai Hume.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:37Foul by Liam Lindsay (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:35Foul by Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:33Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:33Delay in match because of an injury Luke O'Nien (Sunderland).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:33Attempt missed. Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ali McCann.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:31Attempt blocked. Jordan Storey (Preston North End) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:29Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Alan Browne.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:29Emil Riis (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:25Foul by Brad Potts (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:22Attempt blocked. Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:21Attempt missed. Brad Potts (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Andrew Hughes with a cross.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:18Attempt missed. Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:17Foul by Liam Lindsay (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:17Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:16Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Brad Potts.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:16Attempt blocked. Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:16Attempt blocked. Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:13Foul by Andrew Hughes (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:11Attempt saved. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:08Foul by Ali McCann (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:08Attempt missed. Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a set piece situation.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:08Attempt blocked. Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:08Chris Mepham (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:05Foul by Chris Mepham (Sunderland).
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:07Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:04Attempt blocked. Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:04Attempt missed. Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) right footed shot from very close range misses to the left.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:04Attempt blocked. Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordan Storey.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
20:01First Half begins.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
19:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Preston North End vs Sunderland
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