Follow live coverage as Preston North End face Bristol 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.
Preston North End FC 0 - 0 Bristol City FC
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:59Match ends, Preston North End 0, Bristol City 0.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:59Second Half ends, Preston North End 0, Bristol City 0.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:59Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Benjamin Whiteman.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:59Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Stefán Thórdarson.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:59Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Daniel Iversen.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:59Attempt saved. Anis Mehmeti (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Daniel Iversen (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:59Substitution, Bristol City. Yu Hirakawa replaces Scott Twine.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
17:03Attempt saved. Ross McCrorie (Bristol City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Daniel Iversen (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:59Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:59Rob Dickie (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:59Attempt missed. Scott Twine (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left from a direct free kick.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:59Scott Twine (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:59Attempt saved. Ross McCrorie (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Daniel Iversen (Preston North End). Assisted by Adam Randell.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:59Substitution, Bristol City. Sinclair Armstrong replaces Emil Riis.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:59Substitution, Bristol City. George Tanner replaces Jason Knight.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:59Substitution, Preston North End. Stefán Thórdarson replaces Alfie Devine.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:59Substitution, Preston North End. Andrija Vukcevic replaces Thierry Small.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:58Foul by Anis Mehmeti (Bristol City).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:52Foul by Emil Riis (Bristol City).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:44Attempt missed. Adam Randell (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Rob Atkinson following a set piece situation.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:41Rob Atkinson (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:37Foul by Mark Sykes (Bristol City).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:38Attempt blocked. Lewis Gibson (Preston North End) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordan Storey.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:37Attempt missed. Jordan Storey (Preston North End) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:37Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Ross McCrorie.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:37Offside, Bristol City. Rob Atkinson is caught offside.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:37Alfie Devine (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:33Rob Dickie (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:33Harrison Armstrong (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:33Jason Knight (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:32Emil Riis (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:25Substitution, Preston North End. Michael Smith replaces Lewis Dobbin.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:25Substitution, Preston North End. Harrison Armstrong replaces Ali McCann.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:25Attempt blocked. Milutin Osmajic (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:18Attempt missed. Anis Mehmeti (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ross McCrorie with a through ball.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:17Attempt missed. Rob Dickie (Bristol City) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Scott Twine with a cross following a set piece situation.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:17Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:15Andrew Hughes (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:16Delay in match because of an injury Andrew Hughes (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:14Scott Twine (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:14Offside, Preston North End. Milutin Osmajic is caught offside.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:10Offside, Bristol City. Anis Mehmeti is caught offside.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:13Attempt blocked. Ross McCrorie (Bristol City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:06Handball by Emil Riis (Bristol City).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
16:04Second Half begins Preston North End 0, Bristol City 0.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:48First Half ends, Preston North End 0, Bristol City 0.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:48Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Odeluga Offiah.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:48Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:45Attempt saved. Jason Knight (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Daniel Iversen (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:45Attempt blocked. Zak Vyner (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott Twine.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:41Handball by Jason Knight (Bristol City).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:39Attempt missed. Scott Twine (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ross McCrorie with a cross.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:38Attempt saved. Scott Twine (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Daniel Iversen (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:38Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:37Foul by Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:37Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:36Substitution, Preston North End. Odeluga Offiah replaces Pol Valentín because of an injury.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:36Delay in match because of an injury Pol Valentín (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:36Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Pol Valentín.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:36Emil Riis (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:36Lewis Gibson (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:36Attempt missed. Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Lewis Dobbin.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:36Jordan Storey (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:36Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Radek Vítek.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:36Attempt saved. Lewis Gibson (Preston North End) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the top left corner by Radek Vítek (Bristol City).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:36Attempt saved. Lewis Gibson (Preston North End) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Radek Vítek (Bristol City). Assisted by Andrew Hughes.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:35Foul by Rob Dickie (Bristol City).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:26Attempt missed. Ross McCrorie (Bristol City) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Mark Sykes with a cross.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:23Emil Riis (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:23Attempt blocked. Alfie Devine (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lewis Dobbin.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:21Attempt blocked. Anis Mehmeti (Bristol City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:21Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Daniel Iversen.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:21Attempt missed. Jason Knight (Bristol City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Rob Atkinson following a corner.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:17Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Daniel Iversen.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:19Attempt saved. Anis Mehmeti (Bristol City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Daniel Iversen (Preston North End). Assisted by Zak Vyner.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:13Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Thierry Small.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:10Offside, Bristol City. Anis Mehmeti is caught offside.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:08Foul by Emil Riis (Bristol City).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:08Foul by Adam Randell (Bristol City).
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:08Attempt saved. Rob Atkinson (Bristol City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Daniel Iversen (Preston North End). Assisted by Jason Knight.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:07Attempt blocked. Jason Knight (Bristol City) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott Twine with a cross.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:05Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Thierry Small.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:03Attempt missed. Emil Riis (Bristol City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Zak Vyner with a through ball.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
15:01First Half begins.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Preston North End vs Bristol City
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.
