Follow live coverage as Queens Park Rangers 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.

Queens Park Rangers FC 1 - 4 Middlesbrough FC

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:43

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:43

Delay in match because of an injury George Edmundson (Middlesbrough).

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:39

Foul by Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough).

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:42

Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:38

Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Elijah Dixon-Bonner replaces Jonathan Varane.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:38

Foul by Anfernee Dijksteel (Middlesbrough).

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:38

Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:35

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Micah Hamilton replaces Ben Doak.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:35

Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:33

Goal! Queens Park Rangers 1, Middlesbrough 3. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box following a fast break.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:31

Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:33

Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Alfie Lloyd replaces Nicolas Madsen.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:33

Foul by Jimmy Dunne (Queens Park Rangers).

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:29

Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:29

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Daniel Barlaser replaces Jonny Howson.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:29

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Emmanuel Latte Lath replaces Tommy Conway.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:24

Attempt saved. Jonny Howson (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Riley McGree.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:22

Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Rayan Kolli replaces Kieran Morgan.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:21

Offside, Queens Park Rangers. Zan Celar is caught offside.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:17

Own Goal by Anfernee Dijksteel, Middlesbrough. Queens Park Rangers 1, Middlesbrough 2.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:14

Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Jonny Howson.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:14

Foul by Kieran Morgan (Queens Park Rangers).

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:18

Attempt missed. Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left misses to the left following a corner.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:11

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Paul Nardi.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:08

Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Luke Ayling.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:07

Foul by Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough).

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:07

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

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:05

Attempt saved. Zan Celar (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lucas Andersen.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:04

Attempt missed. Kieran Morgan (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:01

Foul by Ben Doak (Middlesbrough).

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

21:01

Attempt saved. Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:57

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Steve Cook.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:58

Attempt blocked. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:55

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Paul Nardi.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:57

Attempt saved. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ben Doak.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:51

Second Half begins Queens Park Rangers 0, Middlesbrough 2.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:57

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Anfernee Dijksteel replaces Neto Borges because of an injury.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:36

First Half ends, Queens Park Rangers 0, Middlesbrough 2.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:34

Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Matt Clarke.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:33

Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:33

Foul by Neto Borges (Middlesbrough).

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:32

Offside, Queens Park Rangers. Zan Celar is caught offside.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:32

Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:30

Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Seny Dieng.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:30

Attempt saved. Jonathan Varane (Queens Park Rangers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jimmy Dunne with a headed pass.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:28

Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Seny Dieng.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:30

Attempt saved. Nicolas Madsen (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Koki Saito with a cross.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:28

Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Seny Dieng.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:28

Attempt saved. Kieran Morgan (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Jimmy Dunne.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:24

Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:23

Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Jonny Howson.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:24

Attempt saved. Zan Celar (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Nicolas Madsen.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:20

Goal! Queens Park Rangers 0, Middlesbrough 2. Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:19

Foul by George Edmundson (Middlesbrough).

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:17

Goal! Queens Park Rangers 0, Middlesbrough 1. Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Ben Doak.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:17

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:14

Delay in match (Middlesbrough).

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:12

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

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:14

Attempt missed. Neto Borges (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:10

Foul by Jonathan Varane (Queens Park Rangers).

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:06

Hand ball by Tommy Conway (Middlesbrough).

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:05

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Hevertton Santos.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:03

Zan Celar (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:02

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Jonathan Varane.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:01

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

20:01

Delay in match because of an injury Steve Cook (Queens Park Rangers).

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

19:58

Foul by Neto Borges (Middlesbrough).

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

19:57

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

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

19:57

Foul by Ben Doak (Middlesbrough).

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

19:57

Offside, Queens Park Rangers. Zan Celar is caught offside.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

19:55

Attempt blocked. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ben Doak.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

19:50

Attempt saved. Riley McGree (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

19:50

Attempt missed. Jimmy Dunne (Queens Park Rangers) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ilias Chair with a cross following a corner.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

19:49

Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Neto Borges.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

19:47

Foul by Neto Borges (Middlesbrough).

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

19:46

First Half begins.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

19:15

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough

17:45

Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.

Whether it's Premier League, Champions League, a European Championship or the World Cup we will keep you up to date with everything you need to know.

We will have all the latest scores, goals and updates plus analysis and reaction throughout the game here.