(Getty Images)
Follow live coverage as Sheffield Wednesday face Watford 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.
Last year Southampton, Leicester City and Leeds United were relegated from the top flight and all are hopeful of making a quick return – but the likes of Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland all have real promotion ambitions too.
At the other end of the table, QPR, Cardiff City and Birmingham City will hope for better campaigns than last year’s relegation struggle – while newcomers Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to survive after dramatic progress through the play-offs.
Follow live updates from today’s game in the live blog below.
Sheffield Wednesday FC 0 – 0 Watford FC
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:41
Match ends, Sheffield Wednesday 0, Watford 0.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:40
Second Half ends, Sheffield Wednesday 0, Watford 0.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:40
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Momo Diaby.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:40
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Pol Valentín.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:40
Attempt missed. Mallik Wilks (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Djeidi Gassama.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:40
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Mallik Wilks replaces Anthony Musaba.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:37
Attempt missed. Jake Livermore (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Tom Dele-Bashiru.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:37
Momo Diaby (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:37
Ben Hamer (Watford) is shown the yellow card.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:36
Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Ben Hamer.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:36
Attempt saved. Anthony Musaba (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Liam Palmer with a headed pass.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:40
Attempt blocked. Liam Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:34
Momo Diaby (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:32
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Momo Diaby replaces Barry Bannan.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:32
Substitution, Watford. Emmanuel Dennis replaces Giorgi Chakvetadze.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:28
Substitution, Watford. Ryan Porteous replaces Mattie Pollock.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:26
Attempt missed. Djeidi Gassama (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Anthony Musaba.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:24
Marvin Johnson (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:24
Foul by Michael Smith (Sheffield Wednesday).
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:24
Offside, Sheffield Wednesday. Michael Smith is caught offside.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:22
Anthony Musaba (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:22
Mattie Pollock (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:22
Djeidi Gassama (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:21
Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday) is shown the yellow card.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:19
Substitution, Watford. Ken Sema replaces Jamal Lewis.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:19
Substitution, Watford. Mileta Rajovic replaces Vakoun Bayo.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:19
Attempt blocked. Wesley Hoedt (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Giorgi Chakvetadze with a cross.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:17
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Pol Valentín.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:17
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Bailey-Tye Cadamarteri replaces Iké Ugbo.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:16
Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Wesley Hoedt.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:16
Attempt blocked. Michael Smith (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Anthony Musaba with a cross.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:14
Foul by Djeidi Gassama (Sheffield Wednesday).
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:12
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:12
Delay in match because of an injury Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday).
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:11
Attempt saved. Di’Shon Bernard (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:11
Djeidi Gassama (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:07
Djeidi Gassama (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:05
Attempt saved. Yáser Asprilla (Watford) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:58
Attempt missed. Ismaël Koné (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
21:02
Attempt blocked. Marvin Johnson (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:54
Iké Ugbo (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:51
Foul by Djeidi Gassama (Sheffield Wednesday).
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:50
Second Half begins Sheffield Wednesday 0, Watford 0.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:50
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Michael Smith replaces Josh Windass.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:34
First Half ends, Sheffield Wednesday 0, Watford 0.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:34
Attempt missed. Ryan Andrews (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ismaël Koné.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:33
Wesley Hoedt (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:33
Iké Ugbo (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:33
Attempt saved. Anthony Musaba (Sheffield Wednesday) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:34
Iké Ugbo (Sheffield Wednesday) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Josh Windass.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:30
Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Jamal Lewis.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:30
Attempt blocked. Anthony Musaba (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Josh Windass.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:28
Marvin Johnson (Sheffield Wednesday) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:30
Foul by Marvin Johnson (Sheffield Wednesday).
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:28
Josh Windass (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:27
Akin Famewo (Sheffield Wednesday) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:27
Foul by Akin Famewo (Sheffield Wednesday).
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:25
Attempt blocked. Djeidi Gassama (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Barry Bannan.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:23
Attempt missed. Matheus Martins (Watford) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right misses to the right. Assisted by Vakoun Bayo.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:23
Attempt missed. Tom Dele-Bashiru (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Vakoun Bayo with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:21
Foul by Djeidi Gassama (Sheffield Wednesday).
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:21
Attempt blocked. Vakoun Bayo (Watford) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:19
Attempt missed. Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Djeidi Gassama.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:18
Josh Windass (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:18
Attempt blocked. Matheus Martins (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:16
Liam Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:16
Foul by Liam Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday).
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:15
Attempt blocked. Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:14
Iké Ugbo (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:14
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:12
Delay in match because of an injury Djeidi Gassama (Sheffield Wednesday).
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:12
Matheus Martins (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:12
Djeidi Gassama (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:09
Attempt saved. Djeidi Gassama (Sheffield Wednesday) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:09
Attempt blocked. Iké Ugbo (Sheffield Wednesday) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Josh Windass with a cross.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:09
Attempt blocked. Anthony Musaba (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Josh Windass.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:06
Foul by Di’Shon Bernard (Sheffield Wednesday).
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:05
Attempt missed. Liam Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Josh Windass following a corner.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:03
Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Jamal Lewis.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:03
Attempt missed. Di’Shon Bernard (Sheffield Wednesday) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Barry Bannan with a cross following a corner.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:01
Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Ben Hamer.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
20:01
Attempt saved. Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
19:56
Offside, Watford. Vakoun Bayo is caught offside.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
19:54
Offside, Watford. Ryan Andrews is caught offside.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
19:53
Attempt saved. Vakoun Bayo (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Giorgi Chakvetadze with a cross.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
19:51
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Marvin Johnson.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
19:48
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Akin Famewo.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
19:47
First Half begins.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
19:15
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford
18:45
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.
