Watford vs Middlesbrough LIVE: Championship result, final score and reaction

Follow live coverage as Watford 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.

Watford FC 2 - 1 Middlesbrough FC

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:57

Match ends, Watford 2, Middlesbrough 1.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:55

Second Half ends, Watford 2, Middlesbrough 1.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:55

Offside, Watford. Kwadwo Baah is caught offside.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:54

Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:54

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

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford) is shown the yellow card.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Substitution, Watford. Yasser Larouci replaces Ken Sema.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Delay in match because of an injury Angelo Ogbonna (Watford).

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Offside, Middlesbrough. George Edmundson is caught offside.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Kwadwo Baah (Watford) is shown the yellow card.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Isaiah Jones (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Offside, Middlesbrough. George Edmundson is caught offside.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ryan Porteous.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Marcus Forss replaces Aidan Morris.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Ryan Porteous (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:53

Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:44

Goal! Watford 2, Middlesbrough 1. Kwadwo Baah (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:44

Corner, Watford. Conceded by Rav van den Berg.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:41

Corner, Watford. Conceded by Rav van den Berg.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:41

Foul by Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough).

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:41

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ryan Andrews.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:35

Attempt missed. Edo Kayembe (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:34

Corner, Watford. Conceded by Luke Ayling.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:35

Attempt saved. Edo Kayembe (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Giorgi Chakvetadze.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:34

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Delano Burgzorg replaces Emmanuel Latte Lath.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:33

Goal! Watford 1, Middlesbrough 1. Edo Kayembe (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Andrews.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:32

Offside, Middlesbrough. Isaiah Jones is caught offside.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:32

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

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:32

Corner, Watford. Conceded by Isaiah Jones.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:31

Corner, Watford. Conceded by Luke Ayling.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:31

Substitution, Watford. Edo Kayembe replaces Moussa Sissoko.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:31

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

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:31

Attempt saved. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Riley McGree.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:31

Foul by Neto Borges (Middlesbrough).

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:31

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Riley McGree replaces Micah Hamilton.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:31

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Isaiah Jones replaces Ben Doak.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:31

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

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:30

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

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:30

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

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:30

Foul by Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough).

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:26

Substitution, Watford. Vakoun Bayo replaces Tom Ince.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:26

Substitution, Watford. Kwadwo Baah replaces Daniel Jebbison.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:25

Offside, Middlesbrough. Emmanuel Latte Lath is caught offside.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:24

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

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:23

Foul by Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough).

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:15

Corner, Watford. Conceded by Emmanuel Latte Lath.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:14

Corner, Watford. Conceded by Luke Ayling.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:11

Goal! Watford 0, Middlesbrough 1. George Edmundson (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from very close range following a set piece situation.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:11

Foul by Tom Dele-Bashiru (Watford).

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:06

Micah Hamilton (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:06

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

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:02

Second Half begins Watford 0, Middlesbrough 0.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:47

First Half ends, Watford 0, Middlesbrough 0.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:47

Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:47

Foul by Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough).

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:44

Offside, Watford. Daniel Jebbison is caught offside.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:44

Attempt missed. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Finn Azaz with a cross.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

16:04

Attempt missed. Ken Sema (Watford) left footed shot from the left side of the box.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:41

Foul by Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough).

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:40

Foul by Micah Hamilton (Middlesbrough).

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:35

Micah Hamilton (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:35

Attempt blocked. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ben Doak.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:33

Attempt missed. Tom Ince (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high following a fast break.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:33

Ben Doak (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:33

Attempt blocked. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Luke Ayling.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:29

Attempt missed. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Aidan Morris.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:29

Micah Hamilton (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:27

Attempt saved. Micah Hamilton (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Neto Borges.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:32

Attempt blocked. Ryan Andrews (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:26

Attempt blocked. Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:24

Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:24

Foul by Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough).

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:23

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Angelo Ogbonna.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:24

Attempt blocked. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:23

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

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:23

Foul by Rav van den Berg (Middlesbrough).

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:20

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Ryan Andrews.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:20

Offside, Watford. Daniel Jebbison is caught offside.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:19

Foul by Ben Doak (Middlesbrough).

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:17

Attempt saved. Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:17

Offside, Watford. Moussa Sissoko is caught offside.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:17

Attempt blocked. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Finn Azaz.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:08

Foul by Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough).

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:08

Attempt missed. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Luke Ayling with a through ball.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:04

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Angelo Ogbonna.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

15:01

First Half begins.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

14:30

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Watford vs Middlesbrough

13:00

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