Follow live coverage as Portsmouth 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.
Portsmouth FC 0 - 1 Stoke City FC
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:29Match ends, Portsmouth 0, Stoke City 1.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:27Second Half ends, Portsmouth 0, Stoke City 1.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:27Attempt blocked. Makenzie Kirk (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Conor Chaplin.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:25Substitution, Stoke City. Tatsuki Seko replaces Lewis Baker.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:24Maksym Talovierov (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:20Substitution, Stoke City. Steven Nzonzi replaces Ben Pearson because of an injury.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:20Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:20Foul by Sorba Thomas (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:19Foul by Divin Mubama (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:23Offside, Portsmouth. Makenzie Kirk is caught offside.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:23Attempt missed. Marlon Pack (Portsmouth) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Conor Chaplin with a cross following a set piece situation.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:16Maksym Talovierov (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:16Foul by Maksym Talovierov (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:14Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:13Substitution, Portsmouth. Márk Kosznovszky replaces Andre Dozzell.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:13Delay in match (Portsmouth).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:14Delay in match because of an injury Million Manhoef (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:12Foul by Maksym Talovierov (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:11Attempt missed. Tomás Rigo (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Sorba Thomas.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:10Attempt missed. Aaron Cresswell (Stoke City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Ben Pearson.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:09Ben Wilmot (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:07Offside, Stoke City. Ben Wilmot is caught offside.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:07Lewis Baker (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:03Foul by Sorba Thomas (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:01Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Ben Pearson.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:01Substitution, Portsmouth. Josh Knight replaces Hayden Matthews because of an injury.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
14:01Substitution, Stoke City. Tomás Rigo replaces Bae Jun-Ho.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:59Own Goal by Hayden Matthews, Portsmouth. Portsmouth 0, Stoke City 1.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:58Attempt saved. Makenzie Kirk (Portsmouth) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal by Viktor Johansson (Stoke City). Assisted by Josh Murphy with a cross.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:58Attempt missed. Ashley Phillips (Stoke City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Lewis Baker with a cross following a set piece situation.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:58Substitution, Portsmouth. Terry Devlin replaces Jordan Williams.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:57Substitution, Portsmouth. Josh Murphy replaces Yang Min-Hyeok.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:57Maksym Talovierov (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:54Aaron Cresswell (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:54Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:53Delay in match because of an injury Yang Min-Hyeok (Portsmouth).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:51Divin Mubama (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:50Foul by Divin Mubama (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:48Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Maksym Talovierov.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:46Foul by Sorba Thomas (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:45Offside, Stoke City. Divin Mubama is caught offside.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:41Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Ashley Phillips.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:38Attempt missed. Connor Ogilvie (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high following a corner.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:42Attempt blocked. Marlon Pack (Portsmouth) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:42Attempt blocked. Makenzie Kirk (Portsmouth) left footed shot from very close range is blocked.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:41Attempt saved. Makenzie Kirk (Portsmouth) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Viktor Johansson (Stoke City). Assisted by Marlon Pack with a headed pass.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:38Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Divin Mubama.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:38Sorba Thomas (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:37Foul by Ben Wilmot (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:35Attempt missed. Makenzie Kirk (Portsmouth) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Marlon Pack with a cross.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:34Second Half begins Portsmouth 0, Stoke City 0.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:19First Half ends, Portsmouth 0, Stoke City 0.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:18Foul by Ben Pearson (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:16Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:18Attempt missed. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:16Attempt saved. Divin Mubama (Stoke City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Josef Bursik (Portsmouth). Assisted by Lewis Baker with a through ball.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:15Attempt missed. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Bae Jun-Ho.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:14Foul by Divin Mubama (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:14Attempt blocked. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sorba Thomas.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:13Marlon Pack (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:13Foul by Marlon Pack (Portsmouth).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:11Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:08Delay in match because of an injury Colby Bishop (Portsmouth).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:05Makenzie Kirk (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:05Offside, Portsmouth. Makenzie Kirk is caught offside.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:04Attempt missed. Makenzie Kirk (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Andre Dozzell.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:04Foul by Maksym Talovierov (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:02Attempt saved. Marlon Pack (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Viktor Johansson (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:01Foul by Million Manhoef (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
13:01Foul by Connor Ogilvie (Portsmouth).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:58Handball by Divin Mubama (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:58Attempt missed. Colby Bishop (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:58Attempt blocked. Makenzie Kirk (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marlon Pack.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:57Offside, Portsmouth. Makenzie Kirk is caught offside.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:55Attempt saved. Divin Mubama (Stoke City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Josef Bursik (Portsmouth). Assisted by Maksym Talovierov with a through ball.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:53Offside, Stoke City. Divin Mubama is caught offside.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:49Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Ashley Phillips.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:50Attempt missed. Colby Bishop (Portsmouth) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Conor Chaplin with a cross following a corner.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:48Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Ben Wilmot.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:43Attempt missed. Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Million Manhoef following a set piece situation.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:43Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:43Delay in match (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:42Offside, Portsmouth. Makenzie Kirk is caught offside.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:40Attempt missed. Yang Min-Hyeok (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Marlon Pack.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:39Foul by Hayden Matthews (Portsmouth).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:37Attempt missed. Divin Mubama (Stoke City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Aaron Cresswell with a cross.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:36Foul by Million Manhoef (Stoke City).
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:34Attempt missed. Ashley Phillips (Stoke City) header from very close range is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Aaron Cresswell with a cross following a corner.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:34Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Marlon Pack.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:33Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Marlon Pack.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:31Jordan Williams (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:31First Half begins.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
12:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Portsmouth vs Stoke City
10:30Follow 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.
