Follow live coverage as Bristol City 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 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.

Bristol City FC 2 - 0 Stoke City FC

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:41

Match ends, Bristol City 2, Stoke City 0.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:38

Second Half ends, Bristol City 2, Stoke City 0.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:38

Attempt missed. Josh Wilson-Esbrand (Stoke City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right from a direct free kick.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:37

Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:35

Ben Pearson (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:35

Attempt missed. Wouter Burger (Stoke City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Josh Wilson-Esbrand with a cross following a set piece situation.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:35

Marcus McGuane (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:35

Bae Jun-Ho (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:32

Offside, Stoke City. Bae Jun-Ho is caught offside.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:32

Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:30

Substitution, Bristol City. George Tanner replaces Ross McCrorie.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:30

Substitution, Stoke City. Ben Pearson replaces Lewis Baker.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:26

Josh Wilson-Esbrand (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:26

Lewis Koumas (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:23

Substitution, Bristol City. Marcus McGuane replaces Max Bird.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:21

Attempt saved. Nahki Wells (Bristol City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:21

Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Emre Tezgel.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:21

Attempt saved. Yu Hirakawa (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Anis Mehmeti with a cross.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:21

Substitution, Stoke City. Emre Tezgel replaces Ali Al-Hamadi.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:21

Foul by Ali Al-Hamadi (Stoke City).

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:17

Attempt missed. Lewis Koumas (Stoke City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Junior Tchamadeu with a cross.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:16

Goal! Bristol City 2, Stoke City 0. Anis Mehmeti (Bristol City) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the top right corner following a corner.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:15

Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Michael Rose.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:12

Wouter Burger (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:09

Substitution, Stoke City. Lewis Koumas replaces Ben Gibson.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:09

Substitution, Stoke City. Bae Jun-Ho replaces Nathan Lowe.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:08

Offside, Stoke City. Nathan Lowe is caught offside.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:04

Substitution, Bristol City. George Earthy replaces Scott Twine.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:04

Substitution, Bristol City. Yu Hirakawa replaces Mark Sykes.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:04

Substitution, Bristol City. Nahki Wells replaces Sinclair Armstrong.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:02

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

21:02

Delay in match because of an injury Nathan Lowe (Stoke City).

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:56

Andrew Moran (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:56

Ben Gibson (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:54

Foul by Ben Gibson (Stoke City).

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:53

Foul by Nathan Lowe (Stoke City).

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:53

Andrew Moran (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:51

Foul by Lewis Baker (Stoke City).

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:51

Attempt missed. Rob Dickie (Bristol City) header from very close range is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Scott Twine with a cross following a set piece situation.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:49

Foul by Andrew Moran (Stoke City).

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:47

Second Half begins Bristol City 1, Stoke City 0.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:47

Substitution, Stoke City. Junior Tchamadeu replaces Tatsuki Seko.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:32

First Half ends, Bristol City 1, Stoke City 0.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:31

Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:31

Foul by Lewis Baker (Stoke City).

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:31

Offside, Stoke City. Michael Rose is caught offside.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:28

Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Mark Sykes.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:26

Haydon Roberts (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:25

Foul by Haydon Roberts (Bristol City).

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:26

Ali Al-Hamadi (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:23

Mark Sykes (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:22

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:22

Delay in match because of an injury Nathan Lowe (Stoke City).

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:20

Attempt missed. Lewis Baker (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:18

Offside, Stoke City. Lewis Baker is caught offside.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:16

Attempt saved. Sinclair Armstrong (Bristol City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:10

Michael Rose (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:10

Sinclair Armstrong (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:10

Offside, Bristol City. Ross McCrorie is caught offside.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:10

Attempt missed. Mark Sykes (Bristol City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:09

Attempt blocked. Jason Knight (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott Twine.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:05

Foul by Jason Knight (Bristol City).

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:03

Attempt missed. Max Bird (Bristol City) left footed shot from the left side of the box.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

20:02

Attempt missed. Andrew Moran (Stoke City) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

19:57

Goal! Bristol City 1, Stoke City 0. Anis Mehmeti (Bristol City) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mark Sykes.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

19:57

Rob Dickie (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

19:56

Foul by Scott Twine (Bristol City).

Bristol City vs Stoke City

19:53

Attempt saved. Scott Twine (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

19:53

Josh Wilson-Esbrand (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

19:53

Attempt blocked. Nathan Lowe (Stoke City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ali Al-Hamadi.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

19:47

Offside, Stoke City. Nathan Lowe is caught offside.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

19:46

First Half begins.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

19:15

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Bristol City vs Stoke City

17:45

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