Follow live coverage as Preston North End 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.
Preston North End FC 3 - 2 Sheffield United FC
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:59Match ends, Preston North End 3, Sheffield United 2.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:59Second Half ends, Preston North End 3, Sheffield United 2.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:59Attempt missed. Danny Ings (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:58Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:57Harrison Armstrong (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:55Ben Mee (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:55Attempt missed. Thomas Cannon (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Callum O'Hare.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:55Attempt blocked. Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum O'Hare.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:54Michael Smith (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:54Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:52Attempt missed. Djibril Soumaré (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Japhet Tanganga.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:51Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:49Attempt missed. Michael Smith (Preston North End) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Stefán Thórdarson following a fast break.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:49Jordan Storey (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:49Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:47Attempt missed. Djibril Soumaré (Sheffield United) left footed shot from very close range is just a bit too high. Assisted by Japhet Tanganga with a headed pass following a corner.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:47Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Michael Smith.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:46Stefán Thórdarson (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:46Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:45Attempt blocked. Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Djibril Soumaré.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:43Substitution, Sheffield United. Thomas Cannon replaces Tyrese Campbell.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:43Foul by Louie Barry (Sheffield United).
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:41Attempt missed. Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:41Substitution, Sheffield United. Jamie Shackleton replaces Mark McGuinness.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:40Substitution, Preston North End. Michael Smith replaces Lewis Dobbin.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:40Substitution, Preston North End. Stefán Thórdarson replaces Alfie Devine.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:40Substitution, Preston North End. Milutin Osmajic replaces Daniel Jebbison.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:39Foul by Japhet Tanganga (Sheffield United).
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:36Offside, Sheffield United. Louie Barry is caught offside.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:35Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:34Attempt missed. Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:33Attempt missed. Alfie Devine (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Lewis Dobbin following a fast break.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:28Foul by Andrew Hughes (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:28Attempt missed. Thierry Small (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Daniel Jebbison.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:28Attempt saved. Alfie Devine (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Michael Cooper (Sheffield United). Assisted by Harrison Armstrong.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:27Substitution, Preston North End. Thierry Small replaces Andrija Vukcevic because of an injury.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:26Substitution, Sheffield United. Djibril Soumaré replaces Jairo Riedewald.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:27Substitution, Sheffield United. Danny Ings replaces Chiedozie Ogbene.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:25Substitution, Sheffield United. Louie Barry replaces Andre Brooks.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:27Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:25Delay in match because of an injury Andrija Vukcevic (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:23Offside, Sheffield United. Chiedozie Ogbene is caught offside.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:22Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:22Delay in match (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:21Goal! Preston North End 3, Sheffield United 2. Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Andrija Vukcevic with a cross.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:21Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:21Delay in match because of an injury Andre Brooks (Sheffield United).
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:17Foul by Andrija Vukcevic (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:16Attempt missed. Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Lewis Dobbin.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:11Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Jordan Storey.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:09Own Goal by Japhet Tanganga, Sheffield United. Preston North End 2, Sheffield United 2.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:09Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
21:08Second Half begins Preston North End 1, Sheffield United 2.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:52First Half ends, Preston North End 1, Sheffield United 2.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:51Goal! Preston North End 1, Sheffield United 2. Lewis Dobbin (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Daniel Jebbison.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:49Attempt missed. Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Odeluga Offiah with a cross.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:49Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:46Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Liam Lindsay.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:43Jordan Storey (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:41Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Liam Lindsay.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:40Substitution, Preston North End. Liam Lindsay replaces Lewis Gibson because of an injury.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:40Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:39Delay in match because of an injury Lewis Gibson (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:38Attempt missed. Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Japhet Tanganga with a cross.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:36Foul by Andrew Hughes (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:36Jairo Riedewald (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:36Harrison Armstrong (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:35Offside, Sheffield United. Tyrese Campbell is caught offside.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:34Foul by Andrija Vukcevic (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:31Odeluga Offiah (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:31Foul by Odeluga Offiah (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:29Lewis Gibson (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:24Foul by Andrew Hughes (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:23Jordan Storey (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:23Jordan Storey (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:20Foul by Andrew Hughes (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:18Goal! Preston North End 0, Sheffield United 2. Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tyrese Campbell.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:16Attempt saved. Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Daniel Iversen (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:12Goal! Preston North End 0, Sheffield United 1. Andre Brooks (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tyrese Campbell with a through ball.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:12Attempt blocked. Lewis Dobbin (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:10Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Ben Mee.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:12Attempt blocked. Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:10Attempt missed. Lewis Dobbin (Preston North End) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:09Attempt missed. Jairo Riedewald (Sheffield United) left footed shot from more than 40 yards on the left wing is close, but misses to the left.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:08Foul by Lewis Dobbin (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:08Foul by Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United).
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:07Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:07Delay in match because of an injury Jordan Storey (Preston North End).
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:05Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Jairo Riedewald.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:06Attempt blocked. Lewis Dobbin (Preston North End) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andrija Vukcevic.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:05Attempt blocked. Alfie Devine (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:04Attempt missed. Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End) with an attempt from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Alfie Devine with a cross following a set piece situation.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:03Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
20:02First Half begins.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
19:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
18:00Follow 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.
