Follow live coverage as Southampton 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.
Southampton FC 1 - 2 Stoke City FC
Southampton vs Stoke City
17:03Match ends, Southampton 1, Stoke City 2.
Southampton vs Stoke City
17:03Second Half ends, Southampton 1, Stoke City 2.
Southampton vs Stoke City
17:02Offside, Southampton. Jack Stephens is caught offside.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:57Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:57Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:57Delay in match because of an injury Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City).
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:55Attempt missed. Damion Downs (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:55Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:50Delay in match because of an injury Viktor Johansson (Stoke City).
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:47Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Aaron Cresswell.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:47Substitution, Stoke City. Róbert Bozeník replaces Million Manhoef.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:47Goal! Southampton 1, Stoke City 2. Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton) header from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mateus Fernandes with a cross following a corner.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:46Substitution, Southampton. Cameron Archer replaces Jay Robinson.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:45Substitution, Southampton. Mads Roerslev replaces Shea Charles.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:42Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Eric-Junior Bocat.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:40Goal! Southampton 0, Stoke City 2. Sorba Thomas (Stoke City) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Viktor Johansson following a fast break.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:38Attempt missed. Mateus Fernandes (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Shea Charles.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:38Viktor Johansson (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:38Substitution, Stoke City. Ashley Phillips replaces Tatsuki Seko.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:38Substitution, Stoke City. Eric-Junior Bocat replaces Bae Jun-Ho.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:34Attempt missed. Ross Stewart (Southampton) right footed shot from very close range is just a bit too high. Assisted by Ryan Manning with a cross.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:33Substitution, Southampton. Ross Stewart replaces Nathan Wood.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:33Attempt blocked. Damion Downs (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Manning.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:31Attempt blocked. Jay Robinson (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:30Attempt missed. Flynn Downes (Southampton) header from very close range misses to the right. Assisted by Ryan Fraser with a cross.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:28Attempt blocked. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sorba Thomas.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:28Attempt missed. Shea Charles (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ryan Manning.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:27Attempt blocked. Jay Robinson (Southampton) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Manning.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:26Second yellow card to Divin Mubama (Stoke City).
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:26Divin Mubama (Stoke City) has gone down, but the referee deems it simulation.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:23Shea Charles (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:23Nathan Wood (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:23Foul by Nathan Wood (Southampton).
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:22Goal! Southampton 0, Stoke City 1. Lewis Baker (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:22Attempt saved. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Gavin Bazunu (Southampton). Assisted by Sorba Thomas.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:22Shea Charles (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:17Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Bosun Lawal.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:17Attempt saved. Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Viktor Johansson (Stoke City). Assisted by Ryan Fraser with a cross.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:17Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Bosun Lawal.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:17Attempt blocked. Damion Downs (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mateus Fernandes with a cross.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:14Attempt missed. Sorba Thomas (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:12Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Ryan Manning.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:12Foul by Jay Robinson (Southampton).
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:12Attempt missed. Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Ryan Manning with a cross following a corner.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:11Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Lewis Baker.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:11Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Junior Tchamadeu.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:09Second Half begins Southampton 0, Stoke City 0.
Southampton vs Stoke City
16:09Substitution, Southampton. Damion Downs replaces Adam Armstrong.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:53Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Ben Wilmot.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:53First Half ends, Southampton 0, Stoke City 0.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:53Attempt missed. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Junior Tchamadeu.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:52Attempt missed. Sorba Thomas (Stoke City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high following a fast break.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:52Ryan Fraser (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:48Tatsuki Seko (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:48Jay Robinson (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:48Attempt blocked. Mateus Fernandes (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:46Shea Charles (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:47Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:45Offside, Southampton. Adam Armstrong is caught offside.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:44Attempt missed. Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:45Jay Robinson (Southampton) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the centre of the box following a fast break.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:45Jay Robinson (Southampton) hits the left post with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Flynn Downes following a fast break.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:44Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:40Delay in match because of an injury Nathan Wood (Southampton).
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:39Foul by Divin Mubama (Stoke City).
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:36Foul by Shea Charles (Southampton).
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:34Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Junior Tchamadeu.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:33Offside, Stoke City. Divin Mubama is caught offside.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:33Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Gavin Bazunu.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:33Attempt saved. Divin Mubama (Stoke City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner by Gavin Bazunu (Southampton). Assisted by Junior Tchamadeu with a cross.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:30Foul by Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City).
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:30Tatsuki Seko (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:29Divin Mubama (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:28Foul by Divin Mubama (Stoke City).
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:27Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:27Foul by Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City).
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:27Divin Mubama (Stoke City).
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:23Ryan Manning (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:22Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:21Substitution, Southampton. Ryan Manning replaces Welington because of an injury.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:21Delay in match because of an injury Welington (Southampton).
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:19Attempt blocked. Million Manhoef (Stoke City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:17Attempt blocked. Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:15Attempt blocked. Aaron Cresswell (Stoke City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:12Foul by Welington (Southampton).
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:09Attempt blocked. Shea Charles (Southampton) header from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Welington with a cross.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:07Attempt missed. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:07Attempt saved. Ben Wilmot (Stoke City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Gavin Bazunu (Southampton). Assisted by Aaron Cresswell with a cross.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:06Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:03Attempt missed. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left following a fast break.
Southampton vs Stoke City
15:01First Half begins.
Southampton vs Stoke City
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Southampton vs Stoke 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.
