Follow live coverage as Oxford United 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 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 0 - 1 Sheffield United FC
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
17:01Match ends, Oxford United 0, Sheffield United 1.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
17:01Second Half ends, Oxford United 0, Sheffield United 1.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
17:00Attempt missed. Will Vaulks (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a set piece situation.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
17:00Michal Helik (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
17:00Attempt missed. Greg Leigh (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Brian De Keersmaecker with a cross following a corner.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
17:00Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Callum O'Hare.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
17:00Attempt missed. Sam Long (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Stanley Mills with a cross.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
17:00Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:48Greg Leigh (Oxford United) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Michal Helik.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:47Substitution, Oxford United. Greg Leigh replaces Jack Currie.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:47Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Sam McCallum.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:43Substitution, Sheffield United. Femi Seriki replaces Gustavo Hamer.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:43Will Vaulks (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:43Foul by Will Vaulks (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:43Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:43Delay in match because of an injury Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:42Foul by Jack Currie (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:42Substitution, Oxford United. Will Vaulks replaces Filip Krastev.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:42Substitution, Oxford United. Mark Harris replaces Will Lankshear.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:41Substitution, Sheffield United. Sam McCallum replaces Harrison Burrows.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:42Substitution, Sheffield United. Thomas Cannon replaces Tyrese Campbell.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:42Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:41Stanley Mills (Oxford United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:32Will Lankshear (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:41Foul by Sam Long (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:32Substitution, Sheffield United. Alex Matos replaces Djibril Soumaré.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:29Michal Helik (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:28Substitution, Oxford United. Stanley Mills replaces Przemyslaw Placheta.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:28Substitution, Oxford United. Siriki Dembélé replaces Nik Prelec.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:28Goal! Oxford United 0, Sheffield United 1. Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Chiedozie Ogbene with a cross.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:28Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Jamie Cumming.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:28Foul by Jack Currie (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:28Attempt saved. Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Jamie Cumming (Oxford United). Assisted by Harrison Burrows with a cross.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:28Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Brodie Spencer.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:28Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Nik Prelec.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:28Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Jack Currie.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:28Attempt blocked. Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum O'Hare.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:28Sam Long (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:21Foul by Will Lankshear (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:17Foul by Brodie Spencer (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:13Attempt missed. Djibril Soumaré (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Tyrese Campbell.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:05Offside, Sheffield United. Japhet Tanganga is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:04Foul by Will Lankshear (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
16:03Second Half begins Oxford United 0, Sheffield United 0.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:48First Half ends, Oxford United 0, Sheffield United 0.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:48Attempt saved. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Michael Cooper (Sheffield United). Assisted by Jack Currie.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:48Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:48Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:48Attempt missed. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Jack Currie.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:48Attempt saved. Brian De Keersmaecker (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Michael Cooper (Sheffield United). Assisted by Filip Krastev.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:48Attempt missed. Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Gustavo Hamer.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:41Foul by Will Lankshear (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:41Attempt blocked. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:39Filip Krastev (Oxford United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:39Attempt missed. Will Lankshear (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jack Currie.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:39Attempt blocked. Brian De Keersmaecker (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Will Lankshear.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:36Attempt blocked. Nik Prelec (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:36Foul by Will Lankshear (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:32Jack Currie (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:32Attempt missed. Brodie Spencer (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Przemyslaw Placheta with a cross.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:32Will Lankshear (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:32Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:32Delay in match because of an injury Filip Krastev (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:24Offside, Oxford United. Will Lankshear is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:19Attempt missed. Djibril Soumaré (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:17Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Michal Helik.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:19Attempt blocked. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:10Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:10Foul by Djibril Soumaré (Sheffield United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:08Attempt saved. Brodie Spencer (Oxford United) header from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Michael Cooper (Sheffield United). Assisted by Jack Currie.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:08Attempt blocked. Michal Helik (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:08Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Djibril Soumaré.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:08Foul by Mark McGuinness (Sheffield United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:08Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:08Delay in match because of an injury Nik Prelec (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:03Foul by Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United).
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:02Filip Krastev (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
15:01First Half begins.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Oxford United vs Sheffield United
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.
