Preston North End vs Middlesbrough LIVE: Championship result, final score and reaction

A general view of Deepdale - (Getty Images)

Follow live coverage as Preston North End 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.

Preston North End FC 2 - 2 Middlesbrough FC

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:34

Match ends, Preston North End 2, Middlesbrough 2.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:28

Second Half ends, Preston North End 2, Middlesbrough 2.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:28

Darragh Lenihan (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:27

Foul by Darragh Lenihan (Middlesbrough).

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:27

Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:26

Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:25

Sverre Nypan (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:24

Goal! Preston North End 2, Middlesbrough 2. Sontje Hansen (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner following a corner.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:26

Attempt missed. Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Matt Targett with a cross following a corner.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:29

Attempt saved. David Strelec (Middlesbrough) with an attempt from very close range is saved in the bottom left corner by Daniel Iversen (Preston North End). Assisted by Luke Ayling.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:23

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Lewis Gibson.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:23

Attempt blocked. Alan Browne (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:23

Attempt blocked. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt Targett.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:23

Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:23

Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:20

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Sontje Hansen replaces Alfie Jones.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:18

Goal! Preston North End 2, Middlesbrough 1. Jordan Storey (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Benjamin Whiteman with a cross following a corner.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:17

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Matt Targett.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:15

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Alan Browne replaces Hayden Hackney.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:14

Foul by Lewis Gibson (Preston North End).

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:11

Offside, Middlesbrough. David Strelec is caught offside.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:09

Substitution, Preston North End. Andrija Vukcevic replaces Thierry Small.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:09

Attempt blocked. Callum Brittain (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tommy Conway.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:08

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:08

Delay in match (Middlesbrough).

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:03

Goal! Preston North End 1, Middlesbrough 1. Matt Targett (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tommy Conway.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:03

Attempt blocked. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sverre Nypan.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

14:02

Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:58

Attempt missed. David Strelec (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Hayden Hackney following a set piece situation.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:59

Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:57

Foul by Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough).

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:57

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Sverre Nypan replaces Morgan Whittaker.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:56

Attempt missed. Michael Smith (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Benjamin Whiteman.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:53

Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:53

Substitution, Preston North End. Harrison Armstrong replaces Alfie Devine.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:53

Substitution, Preston North End. Mads Frökjaer-Jensen replaces Lewis Dobbin.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:52

Substitution, Preston North End. Michael Smith replaces Daniel Jebbison.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:51

Attempt missed. Lewis Dobbin (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Ali McCann.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:49

Andrew Hughes (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:48

Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:44

Offside, Middlesbrough. Callum Brittain is caught offside.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:44

Attempt blocked. Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Aidan Morris with a through ball.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:43

Foul by Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End).

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:43

Attempt blocked. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Morgan Whittaker.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:42

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Jordan Storey.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:42

Attempt blocked. David Strelec (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:40

David Strelec (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:35

Second Half begins Preston North End 1, Middlesbrough 0.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:35

Substitution, Middlesbrough. David Strelec replaces Kaly Sène.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:19

First Half ends, Preston North End 1, Middlesbrough 0.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:17

Attempt missed. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Morgan Whittaker.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:17

Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:14

Attempt blocked. Andrew Hughes (Preston North End) left footed shot from very close range is blocked.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:12

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Matt Targett.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:11

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:11

Delay in match because of an injury Lewis Dobbin (Preston North End).

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:10

Jordan Storey (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:06

Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:02

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Lewis Gibson.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:02

Attempt blocked. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

13:00

Foul by Alfie Devine (Preston North End).

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

12:57

Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

12:56

Attempt missed. Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a corner.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

12:55

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Thierry Small.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

12:53

Goal! Preston North End 1, Middlesbrough 0. Lewis Dobbin (Preston North End) left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Jordan Storey.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

12:53

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

12:53

Delay in match because of an injury Kaly Sène (Middlesbrough).

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

12:50

Handball by Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough).

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

12:49

Attempt blocked. Andrew Hughes (Preston North End) header from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Alfie Devine with a cross.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

12:48

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Callum Brittain.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

12:44

Foul by Alfie Devine (Preston North End).

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

12:42

Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

12:41

Foul by Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough).

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

12:40

Attempt missed. Alfie Devine (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

12:40

Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

12:40

Lewis Dobbin (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

12:31

First Half begins.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

12:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Preston North End vs Middlesbrough

10:30

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