Follow live coverage as Middlesbrough face Cardiff 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.

Middlesbrough FC 1 - 1 Cardiff City FC

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:54

Match ends, Middlesbrough 1, Cardiff City 1.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:54

Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 1, Cardiff City 1.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:50

Attempt missed. Joe Ralls (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:54

Offside, Cardiff City. Chris Willock is caught offside.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:49

Attempt missed. Daniel Barlaser (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:52

Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:48

Daniel Barlaser (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:47

Foul by Daniel Barlaser (Middlesbrough).

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:47

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:47

Delay in match because of an injury Yakou Méïté (Cardiff City).

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:44

Foul by Ben Doak (Middlesbrough).

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:44

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Jesper Daland.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:44

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Lukas Engel replaces Neto Borges.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:44

Attempt missed. Chris Willock (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Joe Ralls.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:44

Substitution, Cardiff City. Joe Ralls replaces Alex Robertson.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:39

Alex Robertson (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:39

Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:39

Substitution, Cardiff City. Joel Bagan replaces Cian Ashford.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:39

Substitution, Cardiff City. Yakou Méïté replaces Rubin Colwill.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:39

Attempt missed. Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Calum Chambers.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:37

Andy Rinomhota (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:37

Ben Doak (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:37

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Alex Gilbert replaces Finn Azaz.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:37

Ben Doak (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:36

Foul by Ben Doak (Middlesbrough).

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:34

Attempt saved. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is saved.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:33

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Dimitrios Goutas.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:32

Attempt missed. Rav van den Berg (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box following a corner.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:30

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Dimitrios Goutas.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:28

Attempt missed. Isaiah Jones (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Hayden Hackney.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:28

Attempt blocked. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Isaiah Jones.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:27

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Isaiah Jones replaces Delano Burgzorg.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:25

Foul by Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough).

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:25

Substitution, Cardiff City. Chris Willock replaces Ollie Tanner.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:21

Foul by Andy Rinomhota (Cardiff City).

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:16

Attempt missed. Dimitrios Goutas (Cardiff City) header from very close range is too high. Assisted by Alex Robertson with a cross following a corner.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:15

Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Daniel Barlaser.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:15

Attempt blocked. Calum Chambers (Cardiff City) header from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Robertson with a cross.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:15

Foul by Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough).

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:12

Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:12

Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:09

Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:08

Anfernee Dijksteel (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:08

Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:08

Offside, Middlesbrough. Emmanuel Latte Lath is caught offside.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:08

Attempt blocked. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:05

Foul by Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough).

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:05

Offside, Middlesbrough. Emmanuel Latte Lath is caught offside.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

16:03

Second Half begins Middlesbrough 1, Cardiff City 1.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:50

First Half ends, Middlesbrough 1, Cardiff City 1.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:50

Foul by Anfernee Dijksteel (Middlesbrough).

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:48

Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:46

Foul by Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough).

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:34

Offside, Middlesbrough. Neto Borges is caught offside.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:32

Callum O'Dowda (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:32

Ben Doak (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:32

Offside, Middlesbrough. Delano Burgzorg is caught offside.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:32

Offside, Middlesbrough. Emmanuel Latte Lath is caught offside.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:32

Offside, Cardiff City. Callum O'Dowda is caught offside.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:32

Offside, Middlesbrough. Ben Doak is caught offside.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:26

Daniel Barlaser (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:24

Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:23

Goal! Middlesbrough 1, Cardiff City 1. Calum Chambers (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:26

Attempt blocked. Ollie Tanner (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:22

Offside, Middlesbrough. Delano Burgzorg is caught offside.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:22

Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:22

Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Tom Glover.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:17

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Dimitrios Goutas.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:17

Attempt blocked. Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Hayden Hackney.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:17

Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:17

Attempt blocked. Manolis Siopis (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:16

Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Dael Fry.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:15

Foul by Neto Borges (Middlesbrough).

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:14

Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:13

Goal! Middlesbrough 1, Cardiff City 0. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ben Doak with a cross.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:10

Attempt saved. Daniel Barlaser (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:08

Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:04

Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Tom Glover.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:04

Attempt saved. Ollie Tanner (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:03

Offside, Cardiff City. Rubin Colwill is caught offside.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

15:01

First Half begins.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

14:30

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Middlesbrough vs Cardiff City

13:00

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