Follow live coverage as Oxford United face Stoke 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 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 - 3 Stoke City FC
Oxford United vs Stoke City
21:12Million Manhoef (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
21:12Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
21:11Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
21:09Delay in match because of an injury Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City).
Oxford United vs Stoke City
21:07Substitution, Stoke City. Ben Pearson replaces Tatsuki Seko.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
21:07Substitution, Stoke City. Bae Jun-Ho replaces Lewis Baker.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
21:07Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
21:04Attempt missed. Ashley Phillips (Stoke City) header from the right side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Sorba Thomas with a cross following a corner.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
21:04Attempt blocked. Ben Wilmot (Stoke City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Divin Mubama.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
21:04Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Michal Helik.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
21:03Steven Nzonzi (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
21:01Foul by Steven Nzonzi (Stoke City).
Oxford United vs Stoke City
21:00Attempt missed. Will Lankshear (Oxford United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Nik Prelec.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:59Attempt missed. Lewis Baker (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Sorba Thomas.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:57Substitution, Oxford United. Nik Prelec replaces Will Vaulks.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:57Substitution, Oxford United. Siriki Dembélé replaces Przemyslaw Placheta.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:53Attempt missed. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:53Attempt missed. Will Vaulks (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:51Goal! Oxford United 0, Stoke City 3. Lewis Baker (Stoke City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:51Attempt blocked. Lewis Baker (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Junior Tchamadeu.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:51Ben Wilmot (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:49Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Viktor Johansson.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:51Attempt saved. Stanley Mills (Oxford United) right footed shot from more than 40 yards on the right wing is saved in the top left corner by Viktor Johansson (Stoke City). Assisted by Michal Helik.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:48Second Half begins Oxford United 0, Stoke City 2.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:33First Half ends, Oxford United 0, Stoke City 2.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:32Foul by Divin Mubama (Stoke City).
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:32Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:32Attempt blocked. Greg Leigh (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ciaron Brown with a headed pass.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:32Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Junior Tchamadeu.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:32Attempt missed. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:32Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Ciaron Brown.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:28Ciaron Brown (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:26Divin Mubama (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:25Attempt missed. Stanley Mills (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Cameron Brannagan.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:22Offside, Stoke City. Divin Mubama is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:21Foul by Tatsuki Seko (Stoke City).
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:19Foul by Divin Mubama (Stoke City).
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:19Goal! Oxford United 0, Stoke City 2. Steven Nzonzi (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Lewis Baker with a cross following a corner.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:19Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Ciaron Brown.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:18Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Sam Long.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:16Attempt blocked. Divin Mubama (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:12Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:11Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Jamie Cumming.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:11Attempt saved. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Jamie Cumming (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:08Attempt saved. Sorba Thomas (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Jamie Cumming (Oxford United).
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:06Attempt missed. Greg Leigh (Oxford United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Brian De Keersmaecker with a cross following a corner.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:04Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Sorba Thomas.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
20:03Attempt missed. Stanley Mills (Oxford United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Przemyslaw Placheta.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
19:58Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Ashley Phillips.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
19:56Goal! Oxford United 0, Stoke City 1. Lewis Baker (Stoke City) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal following a fast break.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
19:56Attempt saved. Divin Mubama (Stoke City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Jamie Cumming (Oxford United). Assisted by Million Manhoef.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
19:54Offside, Oxford United. Przemyslaw Placheta is caught offside.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
19:54Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Sam Long.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
19:52Viktor Johansson (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
19:51Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Ben Wilmot.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
19:51Attempt blocked. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Will Vaulks.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
19:50Divin Mubama (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
19:49Attempt missed. Greg Leigh (Oxford United) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Brian De Keersmaecker with a cross following a corner.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
19:47Attempt saved. Michal Helik (Oxford United) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner by Viktor Johansson (Stoke City).
Oxford United vs Stoke City
19:47Attempt missed. Will Lankshear (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Brian De Keersmaecker with a cross following a corner.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
19:47Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Eric-Junior Bocat.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
19:46First Half begins.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
19:15Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Oxford United vs Stoke City
17:45Follow 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.
