Follow live coverage as Middlesbrough face Preston North End 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.
Last year Southampton, Leicester City and Leeds United were relegated from the top flight and all are hopeful of making a quick return – but the likes of Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland all have real promotion ambitions too.
At the other end of the table, QPR, Cardiff City and Birmingham City will hope for better campaigns than last year’s relegation struggle – while newcomers Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to survive after dramatic progress through the play-offs.
Follow live updates from today’s game in the live blog below.
Middlesbrough FC 4 – 0 Preston North End FC
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:45
Match ends, Middlesbrough 4, Preston North End 0.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:44
Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 4, Preston North End 0.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:43
Goal! Middlesbrough 4, Preston North End 0. Alex Bangura (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:42
Attempt blocked. Layton Stewart (Preston North End) header from the left side of the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:40
Foul by Sam Greenwood (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:38
Foul by Law McCabe (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:37
Substitution, Preston North End. Jack Whatmough replaces Ryan Ledson.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:37
Substitution, Preston North End. Layton Stewart replaces Mads Frökjaer-Jensen.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:37
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Law McCabe replaces Jonny Howson.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:35
Temporary attempt by: Daniel Barlaser(Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:34
Foul by Matt Clarke (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:32
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Matt Clarke replaces Paddy McNair.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:32
Andrew Hughes (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:32
Matt Crooks (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:29
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Freddie Woodman.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:29
Jonny Howson (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:27
Temporary attempt by: Sam Greenwood(Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:26
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Brad Potts.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:24
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ched Evans.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:24
Attempt blocked. Sam Greenwood (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:23
Sam Silvera (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:22
Anfernee Dijksteel (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:21
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:21
Delay in match because of an injury Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:21
Attempt saved. Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:20
Temporary attempt by: Calvin Ramsay(Preston North End).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:20
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Sam Greenwood replaces Morgan Rogers.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:20
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Sam Silvera replaces Isaiah Jones.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:20
Foul by Morgan Rogers (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:17
Alex Bangura (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:15
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:15
Delay in match because of an injury Paddy McNair (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:15
Brad Potts (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:15
Paddy McNair (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:15
Substitution, Preston North End. Ben Woodburn replaces Kian Best because of an injury.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:13
Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:11
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:10
Delay in match because of an injury Kian Best (Preston North End).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:09
Foul by Rav van den Berg (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:07
Attempt missed. Daniel Barlaser (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Isaiah Jones.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:06
Anfernee Dijksteel (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:07
Foul by Kian Best (Preston North End).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:03
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Freddie Woodman.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:03
Temporary attempt by: Morgan Rogers(Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
21:01
Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Morgan Rogers.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:58
Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Alex Bangura.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:57
Foul by Isaiah Jones (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:56
Offside, Middlesbrough. Anfernee Dijksteel tries a through ball, but Matt Crooks is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:54
Second Half begins Middlesbrough 3, Preston North End 0.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:54
Substitution, Preston North End. Calvin Ramsay replaces Will Keane.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:54
Substitution, Preston North End. Ched Evans replaces Milutin Osmajic.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:39
First Half ends, Middlesbrough 3, Preston North End 0.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:39
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:39
Delay in match because of an injury Milutin Osmajic (Preston North End).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:34
Anfernee Dijksteel (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:33
Offside, Middlesbrough. Seny Dieng tries a through ball, but Emmanuel Latte Lath is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:32
Attempt missed. Andrew Hughes (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left from a direct free kick.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:31
Foul by Isaiah Jones (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:30
Foul by Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:30
Foul by Daniel Barlaser (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:31
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Freddie Woodman.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:30
Attempt saved. Morgan Rogers (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Matt Crooks.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:27
Temporary attempt by: Isaiah Jones(Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:25
Goal! Middlesbrough 3, Preston North End 0. Isaiah Jones (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:25
Temporary attempt by: Morgan Rogers(Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:23
Will Keane (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:22
Will Keane (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:22
Attempt missed. Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:22
Attempt blocked. Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:19
Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Paddy McNair.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:18
Foul by Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:18
Foul by Milutin Osmajic (Preston North End).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:16
Foul by Daniel Barlaser (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:14
Temporary goal by: Rav van den Berg(Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:13
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ryan Ledson.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:13
Temporary attempt by: Matt Crooks(Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:12
Jordan Storey (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:11
Jordan Storey (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:10
Foul by Milutin Osmajic (Preston North End).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:08
Foul by Liam Lindsay (Preston North End).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:07
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:07
Delay in match because of an injury Seny Dieng (Middlesbrough).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
20:04
Goal! Middlesbrough 1, Preston North End 0. Isaiah Jones (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
19:52
Foul by Brad Potts (Preston North End).
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
19:50
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Jordan Storey.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
19:49
Offside, Preston North End. Benjamin Whiteman tries a through ball, but Milutin Osmajic is caught offside.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
19:48
First Half begins.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
19:15
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Middlesbrough vs Preston North End
18:45
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