Follow live coverage as Southampton 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.
Southampton FC 1 - 1 Middlesbrough FC
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:55Match ends, Southampton 1, Middlesbrough 1.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:52Second Half ends, Southampton 1, Middlesbrough 1.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:52Foul by Léo Scienza (Southampton).
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:52Sverre Nypan (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:52Ryan Fraser (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:51Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:49Matt Targett (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:48Léo Scienza (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:48Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:48Caspar Jander (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:48Substitution, Southampton. Elias Jelert replaces Ryan Manning.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:48Substitution, Southampton. Jay Robinson replaces Ross Stewart.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:45Offside, Middlesbrough. Kaly Sène is caught offside.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:43Shea Charles (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:41Léo Scienza (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:40Attempt blocked. Caspar Jander (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Adam Armstrong.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:37Goal! Southampton 1, Middlesbrough 1. Kaly Sène (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Luke Ayling with a through ball.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:36Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Nathan Wood.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:34Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Caspar Jander.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:32Léo Scienza (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:32Substitution, Middlesbrough. Kaly Sène replaces David Strelec.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:32Substitution, Middlesbrough. Sontje Hansen replaces Tommy Conway.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:32Substitution, Middlesbrough. Delano Burgzorg replaces Aidan Morris.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:31Substitution, Southampton. Ryan Fraser replaces Tom Fellows.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:31Attempt blocked. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tom Fellows.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:26Caspar Jander (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:26Foul by Tom Fellows (Southampton).
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:26Attempt blocked. Ryan Manning (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:26Ross Stewart (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:26Substitution, Southampton. Léo Scienza replaces Finn Azaz.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:26Caspar Jander (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:26Foul by Adam Armstrong (Southampton).
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:25Substitution, Middlesbrough. Alan Browne replaces Callum Brittain.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:25Substitution, Middlesbrough. Sverre Nypan replaces Morgan Whittaker.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:25Goal! Southampton 1, Middlesbrough 0. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:25Offside, Middlesbrough. David Strelec is caught offside.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:25Foul by Joshua Quarshie (Southampton).
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:25Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Nathan Wood.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:25Attempt blocked. David Strelec (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Morgan Whittaker.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:24Adam Armstrong (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:24Foul by Adam Armstrong (Southampton).
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:24Attempt blocked. Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum Brittain.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:24Attempt missed. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right following a set piece situation.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:24Joshua Quarshie (Southampton) is shown the yellow card.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:24David Strelec (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:23Foul by Joshua Quarshie (Southampton).
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:16Attempt missed. Finn Azaz (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:16Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:16Tom Fellows (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:05Attempt missed. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Ryan Manning following a corner.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:05Corner, Southampton. Conceded by George Edmundson.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
16:04Second Half begins Southampton 0, Middlesbrough 0.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:49First Half ends, Southampton 0, Middlesbrough 0.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:49Attempt missed. Joshua Quarshie (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Ryan Manning with a cross following a corner.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:48Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Matt Targett.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:47Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:46Corner, Southampton. Conceded by George Edmundson.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:45Foul by Ryan Manning (Southampton).
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:41Finn Azaz (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:39Foul by Ryan Manning (Southampton).
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:39Shea Charles (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:39Corner, Southampton. Conceded by George Edmundson.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:39Attempt missed. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:39Attempt blocked. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by David Strelec.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:39Attempt missed. Finn Azaz (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a corner.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:39Attempt blocked. Ryan Manning (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tom Fellows.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:39Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Tommy Conway.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:39Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Aidan Morris.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:37Attempt blocked. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ross Stewart.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:37Handball by Finn Azaz (Southampton).
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:37Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:37Delay in match because of an injury Callum Brittain (Middlesbrough).
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:30Attempt missed. Ryan Manning (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:30Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:28Tom Fellows (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:24Foul by Matt Targett (Middlesbrough).
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:21Attempt saved. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Sol Brynn (Middlesbrough). Assisted by Ryan Manning.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:20Matt Targett (Middlesbrough) hits the left post with a left footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:16Morgan Whittaker (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:16Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:16Delay in match (Southampton).
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:14Tom Fellows (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:14Tom Fellows (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:11Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:06Attempt missed. Finn Azaz (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a set piece situation.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:04Shea Charles (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:03Attempt blocked. Ross Stewart (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tom Fellows.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:02Offside, Southampton. Ross Stewart is caught offside.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
15:01First Half begins.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Southampton vs Middlesbrough
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.
