Follow live coverage as Sunderland 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.
Sunderland AFC 2 - 1 Sheffield United FC
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:58Match ends, Sunderland 2, Sheffield United 1.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:56Second Half ends, Sunderland 2, Sheffield United 1.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:56Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:56Delay in match because of an injury Anthony Patterson (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:55Substitution, Sunderland. Nazariy Rusyn replaces Wilson Isidor.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:51Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:51Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Wilson Isidor.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:51Attempt blocked. Tom Davies (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Gustavo Hamer.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:58Attempt blocked. Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) right footed shot from very close range is blocked.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:55Attempt blocked. Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United) header from very close range is blocked.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:51Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Jobe Bellingham.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:50Jack Robinson (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:50Foul by Jack Robinson (Sheffield United).
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:47Aji Alese (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:47Michael Cooper (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:47Attempt saved. Chris Mepham (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Patrick Roberts with a cross.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:46Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Rhys Norrington-Davies.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:46Attempt blocked. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Leo Hjelde.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:46Substitution, Sunderland. Leo Hjelde replaces Adil Aouchiche.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:44Attempt missed. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:43Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:42Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Dan Neil.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:42Attempt blocked. Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:42Attempt saved. Andre Brooks (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Harrison Burrows.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:41Foul by Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United).
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:41Hand ball by Ryan Oné (Sheffield United).
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:41Substitution, Sheffield United. Ryan Oné replaces Callum O'Hare.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:41Substitution, Sheffield United. Rhys Norrington-Davies replaces Sam McCallum.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:41Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:37Foul by Luke O'Nien (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:41Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:41Attempt saved. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Dan Neil.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:36Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:34Foul by Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United).
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:36Attempt saved. Jack Robinson (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Harrison Burrows with a cross.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:33Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:32Attempt missed. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Eliezer Mayenda.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:30Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:30Foul by Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United).
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:28Foul by Tom Davies (Sheffield United).
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:28Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:25Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:26Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:23Attempt missed. Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:23Substitution, Sheffield United. Harrison Burrows replaces Sydie Peck.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:23Substitution, Sheffield United. Andre Brooks replaces Alfie Gilchrist.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:20Sam McCallum (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:20Attempt blocked. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dan Neil.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:19Foul by Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:16Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Chris Mepham.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:14Trai Hume (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:12Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:11Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Trai Hume.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:11Attempt blocked. Sam McCallum (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rhian Brewster.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:14Attempt blocked. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:12Attempt blocked. Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Gustavo Hamer with a cross.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:09Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Chris Mepham.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:11Attempt missed. Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:09Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:09Delay in match because of an injury Wilson Isidor (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:14Attempt missed. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Adil Aouchiche with a cross.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
21:06Second Half begins Sunderland 2, Sheffield United 1.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:50First Half ends, Sunderland 2, Sheffield United 1.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:49Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:49Tom Davies (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:44Attempt missed. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Dan Neil following a fast break.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:43Attempt missed. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Trai Hume.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:38Goal! Sunderland 2, Sheffield United 1. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Eliezer Mayenda.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:36Alfie Gilchrist (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:35Own Goal by Luke O'Nien, Sunderland. Sunderland 1, Sheffield United 1.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:35Attempt missed. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:35Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Anthony Patterson.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:35Attempt saved. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from long range on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tom Davies.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:33Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Aji Alese.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:32Attempt missed. Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland) left footed shot from the left side of the box following a fast break.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:31Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Aji Alese.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:30Goal! Sunderland 1, Sheffield United 0. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:27Attempt missed. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Trai Hume with a cross.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:26Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Michael Cooper.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:26Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Sam McCallum.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:26Attempt blocked. Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Chris Mepham.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:24Foul by Dan Neil (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:20Foul by Sydie Peck (Sheffield United).
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:20Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:19Foul by Tom Davies (Sheffield United).
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:18Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Jobe Bellingham.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:19Attempt blocked. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:18Penalty saved. Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:16Penalty conceded by Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) after a foul in the penalty area.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:16Penalty Sheffield United. Kieffer Moore draws a foul in the penalty area.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:16Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:12Attempt saved. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:11Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Michael Cooper.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:11Attempt saved. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:11Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:11Delay in match (Sheffield United).
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
20:03First Half begins.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
19:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Sunderland vs Sheffield United
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