Follow live coverage as Portsmouth 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 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.

Portsmouth FC 2 - 1 Middlesbrough FC

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:32

Match ends, Portsmouth 2, Middlesbrough 1.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:26

Second Half ends, Portsmouth 2, Middlesbrough 1.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:25

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Zak Swanson.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:24

Foul by Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough).

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:23

Attempt missed. Marcus Forss (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:23

Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:22

Tom Glover (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:22

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Marcus Forss replaces Finn Azaz.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:22

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Luke Ayling replaces Rav van den Berg.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:20

Offside, Middlesbrough. Emmanuel Latte Lath is caught offside.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:19

Lukas Engel (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:15

Goal! Portsmouth 2, Middlesbrough 1. Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Callum Lang.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:13

Substitution, Portsmouth. Zak Swanson replaces Jordan Williams.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:13

Substitution, Portsmouth. Ryley Towler replaces Rob Atkinson.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:13

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Alex Gilbert replaces Delano Burgzorg.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:11

Attempt saved. Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Freddie Potts.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:11

Attempt saved. Dael Fry (Middlesbrough) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Finn Azaz.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:08

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

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:08

Foul by Freddie Potts (Portsmouth).

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:07

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

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:05

Foul by Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough).

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:03

Attempt missed. Josh Murphy (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Callum Lang.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:03

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Aidan Morris replaces Daniel Barlaser.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:03

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Lukas Engel replaces Neto Borges.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

17:03

Substitution, Portsmouth. Andre Dozzell replaces Isaac Hayden.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:57

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Rob Atkinson.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Offside, Middlesbrough. Ben Doak is caught offside.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Foul by Colby Bishop (Portsmouth).

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Attempt missed. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Foul by Rav van den Berg (Middlesbrough).

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Connor Ogilvie (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Josh Murphy.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Attempt missed. Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Freddie Potts following a set piece situation.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:53

George Edmundson (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Callum Lang (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:49

Goal! Portsmouth 1, Middlesbrough 1. Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Freddie Potts.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:45

Attempt missed. Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Hayden Hackney following a fast break.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:44

Offside, Middlesbrough. Rav van den Berg is caught offside.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:42

Foul by Callum Lang (Portsmouth).

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:41

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

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:48

Attempt saved. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Tom Glover.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:37

Second Half begins Portsmouth 0, Middlesbrough 1.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:23

First Half ends, Portsmouth 0, Middlesbrough 1.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:21

Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:19

Foul by Josh Murphy (Portsmouth).

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:19

Rav van den Berg (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:19

Foul by Connor Ogilvie (Portsmouth).

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:19

Attempt missed. Marlon Pack (Portsmouth) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Matt Ritchie with a cross following a corner.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:18

Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Rav van den Berg.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:17

Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Hayden Hackney.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:15

Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:15

Foul by Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth).

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:15

Attempt saved. Colby Bishop (Portsmouth) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Matt Ritchie with a cross.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:15

Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Dael Fry.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:15

Foul by Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth).

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:12

Attempt missed. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Neto Borges.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:09

Offside, Middlesbrough. Ben Doak is caught offside.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:09

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

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:06

Goal! Portsmouth 0, Middlesbrough 1. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Delano Burgzorg.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:05

Attempt blocked. Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Neto Borges.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:02

Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by George Edmundson.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:01

Foul by Freddie Potts (Portsmouth).

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:01

Attempt saved. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Rav van den Berg.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:01

Attempt missed. Rob Atkinson (Portsmouth) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Matt Ritchie with a cross following a set piece situation.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

16:01

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

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:59

Connor Ogilvie (Portsmouth) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:58

Freddie Potts (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:56

Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Dael Fry.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:54

Attempt missed. Freddie Potts (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:52

Attempt missed. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Daniel Barlaser following a corner.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:52

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Rob Atkinson.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:49

Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Daniel Barlaser.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:46

Foul by Ben Doak (Middlesbrough).

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:46

Connor Ogilvie (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:45

Josh Murphy (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:43

Attempt missed. Josh Murphy (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the box following a corner.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:43

Attempt blocked. Callum Lang (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:42

Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by George Edmundson.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:41

Attempt saved. Callum Lang (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:40

Attempt missed. Freddie Potts (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:38

Offside, Portsmouth. Colby Bishop is caught offside.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:37

Offside, Middlesbrough. Emmanuel Latte Lath is caught offside.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:37

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Nicolas Schmid.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:37

Attempt saved. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

15:35

First Half begins.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

14:30

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough

13:00

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