Follow live coverage as Watford face Oxford 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.
Watford FC 2 - 1 Oxford United FC
Watford vs Oxford United
17:01Match ends, Watford 2, Oxford United 1.
Watford vs Oxford United
17:00Second Half ends, Watford 2, Oxford United 1.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:59Attempt saved. Mark Harris (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Egil Selvik (Watford). Assisted by Tom Bradshaw.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:59Attempt saved. Kwadwo Baah (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Jamie Cumming (Oxford United). Assisted by Moussa Sissoko.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:56Jack Currie (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:56Max Alleyne (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:56Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:53Corner, Watford. Conceded by Michal Helik.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:53Corner, Watford. Conceded by Jamie Cumming.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:53Attempt saved. Kwadwo Baah (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Jamie Cumming (Oxford United).
Watford vs Oxford United
16:53Corner, Watford. Conceded by Brian De Keersmaecker.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:50Substitution, Watford. Kwadwo Baah replaces Nestory Irankunda.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:50Attempt missed. Tom Bradshaw (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Michal Helik with a headed pass.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:50Substitution, Oxford United. Tom Bradshaw replaces Nik Prelec.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:48Substitution, Oxford United. Mark Harris replaces Siriki Dembélé.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:46Attempt blocked. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jack Currie.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:44Attempt missed. Jeremy Ngakia (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Nestory Irankunda following a corner.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:43Corner, Watford. Conceded by Jamie Cumming.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:43Attempt saved. Luca Kjerrumgaard (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner by Jamie Cumming (Oxford United). Assisted by Nestory Irankunda.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:42Foul by Nampalys Mendy (Watford).
Watford vs Oxford United
16:41Attempt blocked. Siriki Dembélé (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Przemyslaw Placheta.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:38Attempt missed. Edo Kayembe (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Luca Kjerrumgaard following a fast break.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:38Attempt missed. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Brian De Keersmaecker with a through ball.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:38Offside, Watford. Luca Kjerrumgaard is caught offside.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:38Substitution, Oxford United. Jack Currie replaces Greg Leigh.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:38Foul by Jeremy Ngakia (Watford).
Watford vs Oxford United
16:38Substitution, Watford. Moussa Sissoko replaces Imrân Louza.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:38Substitution, Watford. Jeremy Petris replaces Caleb Wiley.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:38Substitution, Watford. Edo Kayembe replaces Rocco Vata.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:36Attempt missed. Greg Leigh (Oxford United) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Brian De Keersmaecker with a cross following a corner.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:33Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Max Alleyne.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:33Attempt saved. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Egil Selvik (Watford). Assisted by Cameron Brannagan.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:32Attempt saved. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Egil Selvik (Watford).
Watford vs Oxford United
16:27Foul by Imrân Louza (Watford).
Watford vs Oxford United
16:27Attempt missed. Rocco Vata (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Luca Kjerrumgaard.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:27Attempt missed. Przemyslaw Placheta (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:27Attempt saved. Rocco Vata (Watford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Jamie Cumming (Oxford United). Assisted by Luca Kjerrumgaard.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:27Attempt saved. Nik Prelec (Oxford United) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner by Egil Selvik (Watford). Assisted by Michal Helik.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:26Substitution, Oxford United. Will Vaulks replaces Will Lankshear.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:22Substitution, Oxford United. Przemyslaw Placheta replaces Stanley Mills.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:22Attempt saved. Nestory Irankunda (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Jamie Cumming (Oxford United).
Watford vs Oxford United
16:20Attempt missed. Imrân Louza (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by James Abankwah.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:19Attempt saved. Rocco Vata (Watford) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal by Jamie Cumming (Oxford United). Assisted by James Abankwah.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:18Attempt missed. Stanley Mills (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Will Lankshear.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:18Imrân Louza (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:18Siriki Dembélé (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:16Nestory Irankunda (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:15Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:13Luca Kjerrumgaard (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:13Delay in match because of an injury Brodie Spencer (Oxford United).
Watford vs Oxford United
16:13Brodie Spencer (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:10Attempt missed. Rocco Vata (Watford) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Luca Kjerrumgaard following a fast break.
Watford vs Oxford United
16:08Second Half begins Watford 2, Oxford United 1.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:56First Half ends, Watford 2, Oxford United 1.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:52Michal Helik (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:56Nestory Irankunda (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:52Goal! Watford 2, Oxford United 1. Jeremy Ngakia (Watford) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left to the bottom right corner following a corner.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:52Corner, Watford. Conceded by Stanley Mills.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:51Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:48Goal! Watford 1, Oxford United 1. Jeremy Ngakia (Watford) header from very close range to the centre of the goal.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:48Attempt blocked. Nestory Irankunda (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:48Attempt blocked. Rocco Vata (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nestory Irankunda.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:47Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:47Delay in match because of an injury Nampalys Mendy (Watford).
Watford vs Oxford United
15:47Attempt missed. Imrân Louza (Watford) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Max Alleyne.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:56Attempt blocked. Nampalys Mendy (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Imrân Louza.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:47Attempt blocked. Brian De Keersmaecker (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:47Attempt missed. Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:47Kévin Keben (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:47Foul by Kévin Keben (Watford).
Watford vs Oxford United
15:47Nampalys Mendy (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:46Caleb Wiley (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:41Attempt missed. Imrân Louza (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:37Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:34Substitution, Watford. Luca Kjerrumgaard replaces Vivaldo Semedo because of an injury.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:33Delay in match because of an injury Vivaldo Semedo (Watford).
Watford vs Oxford United
15:32Stanley Mills (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:32Nestory Irankunda (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:33Attempt blocked. Michal Helik (Oxford United) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Stanley Mills.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:31Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by James Abankwah.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:31Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:30Delay in match because of an injury Vivaldo Semedo (Watford).
Watford vs Oxford United
15:30Attempt saved. Vivaldo Semedo (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Jamie Cumming (Oxford United).
Watford vs Oxford United
15:29Attempt blocked. Nestory Irankunda (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kévin Keben.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:25Attempt missed. Rocco Vata (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Nampalys Mendy.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:23Kévin Keben (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:21Corner, Watford. Conceded by Greg Leigh.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:20Attempt missed. Vivaldo Semedo (Watford) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Rocco Vata with a cross.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:19Nampalys Mendy (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:19Attempt missed. Nestory Irankunda (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:17Attempt blocked. Jeremy Ngakia (Watford) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Imrân Louza.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:16Corner, Watford. Conceded by Jamie Cumming.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:16Corner, Watford. Conceded by Stanley Mills.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:14Attempt missed. Vivaldo Semedo (Watford) right footed shot from very close range is too high. Assisted by Nestory Irankunda.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:37Attempt missed. Nestory Irankunda (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:13Attempt saved. Rocco Vata (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Jamie Cumming (Oxford United). Assisted by James Abankwah.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:12Corner, Watford. Conceded by Brodie Spencer.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:12Attempt saved. Will Lankshear (Oxford United) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom left corner by Egil Selvik (Watford). Assisted by Siriki Dembélé.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:09Attempt missed. Imrân Louza (Watford) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jeremy Ngakia following a set piece situation.
Watford vs Oxford United
15:09Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website
