Follow live coverage as Sunderland face Coventry 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 Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United 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 Norwich City, an improving Coventry and beaten play-off finalists Leeds United. At the other end of the table, Wayne Rooney is aiming to revive Plymouth’s fortunes after they narrowly avoided relegation last year, with Portsmouth and Derby the teams promoted from League One along with play-off final winners Oxford.
Follow live updates from today’s game in the live blog below.
Sunderland AFC 0 - 0 Coventry City FC
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:28Jack Rudoni (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:28Ben Wilson (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:27Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:27Foul by Trai Hume (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:27Attempt missed. Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a corner.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:28Ben Wilson (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:26Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Ben Wilson.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:26Attempt saved. Trai Hume (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Luke O'Nien.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:25Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Matt Grimes.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:24Foul by Milan van Ewijk (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:23Foul by Haji Wright (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:23Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Dennis Cirkin.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:20Foul by Matt Grimes (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:18Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Dan Ballard.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:17Attempt missed. Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:16Bobby Thomas (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:14Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Jack Rudoni.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:12Ephron Mason-Clark (Coventry City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:12Foul by Jack Rudoni (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:11Attempt missed. Milan van Ewijk (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a corner.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:11Attempt blocked. Tatsuhiro Sakamoto (Coventry City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt Grimes with a cross.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:11Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Jobe Bellingham.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:06Offside, Coventry City. Matt Grimes is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:05Ephron Mason-Clark (Coventry City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
21:04Second Half begins Sunderland 0, Coventry City 0.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:49First Half ends, Sunderland 0, Coventry City 0.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:49Hand ball by Ephron Mason-Clark (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:46Dan Ballard (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:46Foul by Jack Rudoni (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:46Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:46Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Dennis Cirkin.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:46Foul by Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:43Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:40Delay in match because of an injury Anthony Patterson (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:40Attempt missed. Jack Rudoni (Coventry City) left footed shot from very close range is too high. Assisted by Ephron Mason-Clark with a headed pass.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:40Attempt blocked. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Enzo Le Fée.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:39Ben Sheaf (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:36Attempt missed. Tatsuhiro Sakamoto (Coventry City) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:37Attempt missed. Jack Rudoni (Coventry City) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Haji Wright with a cross.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:34Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:34Bobby Thomas (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:34Foul by Bobby Thomas (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:34Attempt missed. Bobby Thomas (Coventry City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Tatsuhiro Sakamoto following a set piece situation.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:47Attempt blocked. Bobby Thomas (Coventry City) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Matt Grimes with a cross.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:33Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:32Liam Kitching (Coventry City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:32Matt Grimes (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:30Attempt missed. Tatsuhiro Sakamoto (Coventry City) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right following a corner.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:29Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Dan Ballard.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:29Haji Wright (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:26Jack Rudoni (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:27Foul by Dan Neil (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:26Ben Sheaf (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:24Foul by Ben Sheaf (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:24Attempt missed. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Dan Neil.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:22Attempt saved. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:20Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Dan Ballard.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:18Attempt saved. Ephron Mason-Clark (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:14Foul by Liam Kitching (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:13Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:12Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) has gone down, but the referee deems it simulation.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:11Foul by Haji Wright (Coventry City).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:06Attempt missed. Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) left footed shot from the left side of the box.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:02Offside, Coventry City. Bobby Thomas is caught offside.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:02Foul by Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland).
Sunderland vs Coventry City
20:01First Half begins.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
19:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Sunderland vs Coventry City
18:00Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
Whether it's Premier League, Champions League, a European Championship or the World Cup we will keep you up to date with everything you need to know.
We will have all the latest scores, goals and updates plus analysis and reaction throughout the game here.
