Sheffield United vs Sunderland LIVE: Championship result, final ...

Follow live coverage as Sheffield United face Sunderland 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.

Sheffield United FC 1 - 0 Sunderland AFC

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:57

Match ends, Sheffield United 1, Sunderland 0.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:56

Second Half ends, Sheffield United 1, Sunderland 0.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:56

Tom Davies (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:56

Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Dan Ballard.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:56

Attempt blocked. Femi Seriki (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sydie Peck.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:55

Dan Ballard (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:55

Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Dan Ballard.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:55

Substitution, Sheffield United. Sam McCallum replaces Gustavo Hamer.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:55

Attempt missed. Dan Ballard (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right following a set piece situation.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:55

Attempt blocked. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dan Ballard with a headed pass.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:55

Attempt missed. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:52

Ryan Oné (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:52

Foul by Tom Davies (Sheffield United).

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:51

Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:49

Substitution, Sheffield United. Rhys Norrington-Davies replaces Harrison Burrows.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:49

Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Luke O'Nien.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:49

Attempt blocked. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:47

Foul by Femi Seriki (Sheffield United).

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:47

Adil Aouchiche (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:45

Substitution, Sunderland. Adil Aouchiche replaces Chris Rigg.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:45

Substitution, Sunderland. Aaron Connolly replaces Wilson Isidor.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:43

Goal! Sheffield United 1, Sunderland 0. Tom Davies (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:42

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Jack Robinson.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:41

Attempt missed. Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:39

Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:39

Substitution, Sunderland. Aji Alese replaces Tom Watson.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:39

Substitution, Sunderland. Eliezer Mayenda replaces Patrick Roberts.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:39

Substitution, Sheffield United. Ryan Oné replaces Tyrese Campbell.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:39

Substitution, Sheffield United. Tom Davies replaces Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:39

Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:39

Chris Rigg (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:35

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Harrison Burrows.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:35

Attempt blocked. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dan Ballard with a headed pass.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:35

Attempt blocked. Dan Ballard (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Chris Rigg with a cross.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:34

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Harrison Burrows.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:34

Foul by Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United).

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:32

Attempt saved. Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Vinicius Souza.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:34

Attempt saved. Femi Seriki (Sheffield United) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sydie Peck with a through ball.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:34

Attempt saved. Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Femi Seriki.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:30

Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Wilson Isidor.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:30

Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Luke O'Nien.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:28

Foul by Dan Ballard (Sunderland).

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:26

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Sydie Peck.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:25

Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:25

Foul by Luke O'Nien (Sunderland).

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:25

Attempt missed. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:22

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Femi Seriki.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:20

Offside, Sheffield United. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is caught offside.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:19

Attempt missed. Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:17

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:19

Foul by Dan Ballard (Sunderland).

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:16

Attempt saved. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:12

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Harrison Burrows.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:07

Foul by Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United).

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:07

Tom Watson (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:14

Attempt blocked. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Harrison Burrows.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:07

Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Trai Hume.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:07

Attempt blocked. Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Gustavo Hamer.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:06

Second Half begins Sheffield United 0, Sunderland 0.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

21:06

Substitution, Sheffield United. Femi Seriki replaces Callum O'Hare.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:49

First Half ends, Sheffield United 0, Sunderland 0.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:48

Second yellow card to Harry Souttar (Sheffield United) for a bad foul.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:47

Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:48

Foul by Harry Souttar (Sheffield United).

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:47

Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:46

Foul by Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United).

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:43

Offside, Sheffield United. Tyrese Campbell is caught offside.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:43

Attempt blocked. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:41

Chris Mepham (Sunderland) is shown the red card.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:40

Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:39

Offside, Sunderland. Wilson Isidor is caught offside.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:38

Foul by Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United).

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:37

Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:36

Harry Souttar (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:35

Attempt missed. Tom Watson (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Chris Rigg following a fast break.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:35

Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:35

Attempt missed. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Tom Watson.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:33

Attempt blocked. Tom Watson (Sunderland) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:31

Offside, Sunderland. Wilson Isidor is caught offside.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:31

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Michael Cooper.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:31

Penalty saved. Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) left footed shot saved in the bottom right corner.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:31

Jack Robinson (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:29

Penalty conceded by Jack Robinson (Sheffield United) after a foul in the penalty area.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:29

Attempt blocked. Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jobe Bellingham.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:27

Attempt missed. Tom Watson (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:27

Attempt blocked. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Trai Hume with a cross.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:23

Foul by Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United).

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:21

Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:17

Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Chris Mepham.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:19

Attempt blocked. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Harrison Burrows.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:16

Foul by Patrick Roberts (Sunderland).

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:16

Harrison Burrows (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:17

Attempt blocked. Tom Watson (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Luke O'Nien.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:14

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Vinicius Souza.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:13

Foul by Callum O'Hare (Sheffield United).

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:13

Attempt blocked. Dan Neil (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Patrick Roberts.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:11

Hand ball by Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United).

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:09

Attempt missed. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:05

Attempt missed. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Callum O'Hare.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland

20:04

Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Tom Watson.

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website