Sunderland vs Birmingham City LIVE: Championship latest score, goals and updates from fixture

Follow live coverage as Sunderland face Birmingham 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.

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.

Sunderland AFC 1 - 1 Birmingham City FC

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:24

First Half ends, Sunderland 1, Birmingham City 1.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:24

Trai Hume (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:23

Foul by Trai Hume (Sunderland).

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:24

Juninho Bacuna (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:24

Attempt blocked. Pierre Ekwah (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:21

Niall Huggins (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:19

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Emanuel Aiwu.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:17

Attempt missed. Dion Sanderson (Birmingham City) header from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Koji Miyoshi with a cross following a corner.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:16

Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Pierre Ekwah.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:16

Attempt missed. Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:12

Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:12

Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:11

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Cody Drameh.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:11

Foul by Jack Clarke (Sunderland).

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:10

Foul by Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland).

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:08

Attempt blocked. Ivan Sunjic (Birmingham City) right footed shot from very close range is blocked.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:05

Foul by Jack Clarke (Sunderland).

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:05

Attempt blocked. Niall Huggins (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:03

Goal! Sunderland 1, Birmingham City 1. Koji Miyoshi (Birmingham City) left footed shot from the centre of the box.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:03

Attempt missed. Juninho Bacuna (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jay Stansfield.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:03

Offside, Birmingham City. Dion Sanderson tries a through ball, but Oliver Burke is caught offside.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:01

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:59

Delay in match because of an injury Patrick Roberts (Sunderland).

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:00

Attempt blocked. Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City) right footed shot from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Oliver Burke.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

13:00

Attempt blocked. Oliver Burke (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ethan Laird.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:58

Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:57

Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box following a corner.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:55

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Cody Drameh.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:53

Ethan Laird (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:53

Jack Clarke (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:53

Attempt saved. Juninho Bacuna (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Oliver Burke.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:50

Goal! Sunderland 1, Birmingham City 0. Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) right footed shot from very close range following a corner.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:50

Attempt missed. Nazarii Rusyn (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jack Clarke with a cross following a corner.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:50

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Emanuel Aiwu.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:50

Attempt blocked. Nazarii Rusyn (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jack Clarke with a cross.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:50

Attempt blocked. Pierre Ekwah (Sunderland) left footed shot from more than 35 yards is blocked.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:50

Attempt saved. Pierre Ekwah (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:48

Pierre Ekwah (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:44

Foul by Trai Hume (Sunderland).

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:44

Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:46

Nazarii Rusyn (Sunderland) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Patrick Roberts.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:43

Attempt missed. Daniel Neil (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:43

Attempt blocked. Niall Huggins (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:43

Attempt missed. Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jack Clarke.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:43

Daniel Neil (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:42

Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:41

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:41

Delay in match because of an injury Oliver Burke (Birmingham City).

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:37

Trai Hume (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:36

Attempt missed. Nazarii Rusyn (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:34

Foul by Oliver Burke (Birmingham City).

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:34

First Half begins.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

12:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Sunderland vs Birmingham City

11:30

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.