Follow live coverage as Oxford United face Middlesbrough 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.
Oxford United FC 1 - 1 Middlesbrough FC
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:58Match ends, Oxford United 1, Middlesbrough 1.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:58Second Half ends, Oxford United 1, Middlesbrough 1.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:55Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:54Delay in match because of an injury Ole Romenij (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:54Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:49Attempt saved. Filip Krastev (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Sol Brynn (Middlesbrough). Assisted by Will Vaulks.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:49Attempt missed. Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Riley McGree with a cross.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:49Kaly Sène (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:49Brian De Keersmaecker (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:45Alan Browne (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:43Mark Harris (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:43Alan Browne (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:41Attempt missed. Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Alan Browne.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:41Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ole Romenij.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:39Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ciaron Brown.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:39Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Michal Helik.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:39Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Sam Long.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:37Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:37Attempt blocked. Stanley Mills (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Filip Krastev.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:36Substitution, Oxford United. Ole Romenij replaces Will Lankshear.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:36Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:36Attempt blocked. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Alan Browne.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:36Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:36Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Jack Currie.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:36Callum Brittain (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:36Attempt blocked. Filip Krastev (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Will Lankshear.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:29Attempt missed. Alan Browne (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:28Foul by Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:26Foul by Callum Brittain (Middlesbrough).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:26Attempt blocked. Kaly Sène (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sam Silvera.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:25Attempt missed. Filip Krastev (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Stanley Mills with a cross.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:25Substitution, Oxford United. Stanley Mills replaces Przemyslaw Placheta.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:25Substitution, Oxford United. Filip Krastev replaces Tyler Goodrham.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:25Substitution, Oxford United. Mark Harris replaces Luke Harris.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:25Substitution, Middlesbrough. Kaly Sène replaces Delano Burgzorg.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:24Substitution, Middlesbrough. Riley McGree replaces Aidan Morris.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:24Offside, Middlesbrough. Hayden Hackney is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:23Sam Silvera (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:18Attempt missed. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Will Vaulks following a fast break.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:13Goal! Oxford United 1, Middlesbrough 1. Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Callum Brittain.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:12Attempt missed. Will Vaulks (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Luke Harris.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:11Sam Silvera (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:09Offside, Middlesbrough. Tommy Conway is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:07Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:06Delay in match because of an injury Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:06Attempt saved. Callum Brittain (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner by Jamie Cumming (Oxford United). Assisted by Morgan Whittaker.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:05Second Half begins Oxford United 1, Middlesbrough 0.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
16:04Substitution, Middlesbrough. Sam Silvera replaces Matt Targett.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:50First Half ends, Oxford United 1, Middlesbrough 0.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:50Foul by Alan Browne (Middlesbrough).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:50Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:50Alan Browne (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:46Attempt missed. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Callum Brittain with a cross.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:46Attempt blocked. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:50Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:50Attempt blocked. Matt Targett (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:50Attempt blocked. Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Aidan Morris.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:58Attempt missed. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Callum Brittain with a cross.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:44Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:44Substitution, Oxford United. Will Vaulks replaces Cameron Brannagan because of an injury.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:41Delay in match because of an injury Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:41Brian De Keersmaecker (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:41Foul by Brian De Keersmaecker (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:39Offside, Oxford United. Will Lankshear is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:39Attempt saved. Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Jamie Cumming (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:44Attempt missed. Matt Targett (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:39Attempt blocked. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Delano Burgzorg.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:35Alan Browne (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:35Alan Browne (Middlesbrough) has gone down, but the referee deems it simulation.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:33Foul by Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:29Goal! Oxford United 1, Middlesbrough 0. Luke Harris (Oxford United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jack Currie.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:29Handball by Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:29Attempt missed. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Delano Burgzorg.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:29Attempt blocked. Matt Targett (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Delano Burgzorg.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:29Foul by Callum Brittain (Middlesbrough).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:29Attempt missed. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:28Foul by Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:22Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:19Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:18Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Sam Long.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:18Attempt blocked. Matt Targett (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alan Browne.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:18Luke Harris (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:18Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:18Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:18Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:18Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Aidan Morris.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:18Foul by Alan Browne (Middlesbrough).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:17Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Jack Currie.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:17Foul by Callum Brittain (Middlesbrough).
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:14Attempt blocked. Callum Brittain (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Morgan Whittaker.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:14Attempt blocked. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Delano Burgzorg.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:14Offside, Oxford United. Will Lankshear is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:05Attempt blocked. Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Luke Harris with a headed pass.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:03Will Lankshear (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
15:00First Half begins.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Oxford United vs Middlesbrough
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.
