Follow live coverage as Watford 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.
Watford FC 3 - 0 Middlesbrough FC
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:56Match ends, Watford 3, Middlesbrough 0.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:56Second Half ends, Watford 3, Middlesbrough 0.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:58Attempt blocked. Tom Ince (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Edo Kayembe.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:53Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Egil Selvik.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:53Attempt saved. David Strelec (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Egil Selvik (Watford). Assisted by Callum Brittain with a cross.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:50Attempt missed. David Strelec (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Morgan Whittaker following a fast break.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:50Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:47Substitution, Watford. Edo Kayembe replaces Imrân Louza.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:49Substitution, Watford. Vivaldo Semedo replaces Mamadou Doumbia.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:46Attempt missed. David Strelec (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Matt Targett with a cross following a set piece situation.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:46Sontje Hansen (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:43Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:42Tom Ince (Watford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:41Attempt blocked. Sontje Hansen (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Morgan Whittaker with a cross.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:41Attempt blocked. Alan Browne (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Morgan Whittaker.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:37Substitution, Watford. Nestory Irankunda replaces Luca Kjerrumgaard.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:35Substitution, Watford. Jeremy Petris replaces Kwadwo Baah.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:34Attempt saved. Mamadou Doumbia (Watford) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Sol Brynn (Middlesbrough). Assisted by Luca Kjerrumgaard.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:34Foul by Hector Kyprianou (Watford).
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:32Substitution, Middlesbrough. Sontje Hansen replaces Tommy Conway.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:30Substitution, Middlesbrough. Kaly Sène replaces Hayden Hackney.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:30Substitution, Middlesbrough. Riley McGree replaces Aidan Morris.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:30Substitution, Middlesbrough. Morgan Whittaker replaces Delano Burgzorg.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:29Substitution, Middlesbrough. David Strelec replaces Alfie Jones.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:29Attempt missed. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:25Attempt missed. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Delano Burgzorg.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:27Attempt blocked. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tommy Conway.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:25Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:24Dael Fry (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:23Foul by Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough).
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:23Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Mattie Pollock.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:23Attempt blocked. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt Targett.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:23Substitution, Watford. Tom Ince replaces Rocco Vata because of an injury.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:23Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:23Delay in match because of an injury Rocco Vata (Watford).
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:23Foul by Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough).
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:23Attempt missed. Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Tommy Conway.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:23Attempt missed. Rocco Vata (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Kwadwo Baah.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:23Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:23Foul by Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough).
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:22Foul by Dael Fry (Middlesbrough).
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:19Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Mattie Pollock.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:18Foul by Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough).
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:16Attempt missed. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:14Attempt blocked. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt Targett.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:10Goal! Watford 3, Middlesbrough 0. Luca Kjerrumgaard (Watford) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Mamadou Doumbia.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:09Attempt blocked. Mamadou Doumbia (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kévin Keben.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:06Foul by Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough).
Watford vs Middlesbrough
16:05Second Half begins Watford 2, Middlesbrough 0.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:50First Half ends, Watford 2, Middlesbrough 0.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:50Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:50Foul by Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough).
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:47Kévin Keben (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:47Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:45Foul by Matt Targett (Middlesbrough).
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:44Matt Targett (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:43Offside, Middlesbrough. Delano Burgzorg is caught offside.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:43Attempt blocked. Imrân Louza (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mamadou Doumbia.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:39Alan Browne (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:35Kwadwo Baah (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:35Alan Browne (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:33Goal! Watford 2, Middlesbrough 0. Luca Kjerrumgaard (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jeremy Ngakia with a cross.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:32Handball by Luca Kjerrumgaard (Watford).
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:32Attempt saved. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Egil Selvik (Watford). Assisted by Dael Fry.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:30Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:29Corner, Watford. Conceded by Alfie Jones.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:29Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:30Delay in match (Middlesbrough).
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:30Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Egil Selvik.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:30Attempt saved. Matt Targett (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner by Egil Selvik (Watford).
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:30Alan Browne (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:29Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:29Attempt missed. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Delano Burgzorg.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:24Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:24Attempt missed. Marc Bola (Watford) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Imrân Louza.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:21Foul by Callum Brittain (Middlesbrough).
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:17Goal! Watford 1, Middlesbrough 0. Imrân Louza (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kwadwo Baah following a fast break.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:15Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Jeremy Ngakia.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:15Attempt saved. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Egil Selvik (Watford). Assisted by Tommy Conway.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:14Foul by Imrân Louza (Watford).
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:12Kévin Keben (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:07Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Mamadou Doumbia.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:06Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Mattie Pollock.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:03Offside, Middlesbrough. Delano Burgzorg is caught offside.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
15:01First Half begins.
Watford vs Middlesbrough
14:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Watford 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.
