In the first 90 seconds we have a full-blooded challenge from United's Chris Basham, shortly followed by another big hit from Boro's George Friend.

Both were firm but fair, but a sign of things to come, perhaps - neither side will give an inch.

Sheffield United break from their lengthy team huddle and we're off!

A team relegated from the Premier League last season at home to a side promoted from League One - intriguing.

The teams have emerged from the tunnel at the Riverside Stadium, with 'The Boys are Back in Town' blaring over the PA system - very apt.

It's Garry Monk's first competitive home game in charge of Boro, while Sheffield United are looking for a ninth consecutive league win, a run stretching back to last season.

Bring it on.

Image source, Getty Images

After racking up 100 points to win League One last season, Sheffield United picked up their first three points of the 2017-18 campaign by beating Brentford 1-0 at Bramall Lane last weekend.

Billy Sharp scored the only goal as the Blades won on their return to the second tier after a six-year absence.

Image source, PA

Middlesbrough have spent more than any other EFL club during the current transfer window, but their multi-million pound strike force could not find a way past Wolves in their 1-0 defeat at Molineux last weekend.

This evening's game is the first outing on home soil for Boro this season, and what better way for new manager Garry Monk to endear himself to his new fans than by leading the club to their first three points of the season?

Garry Monk has laid down the law with his Middlesbrough players after their opening-day defeat - he makes four changes for the visit of Sheffield United.

Daniel Ayala, Martin Braithwaite, Ashley Fletcher and Marten de Roon, who has left for Atalanta, come out, with Rudy Gestede, Patrick Bamford, Adam Forshaw and centre-back Dael Fry coming in.

Chelsea youngster Lewis Baker is on the bench for Boro following his loan move.

It's a lot simpler for the Blades, who make 11 changes from their midweek EFL Cup win, but name an unchanged side to the one that beat Brentford last weekend.

Time for a key change, if that's the right way to explain it.

With 33 EFL games done and dusted, we're now focusing on Middlesbrough's game against Sheffield United in the Championship.

Team news to follow shortly...

Image source, Rex Features

• Barnsley 1-2 Ipswich
• Birmingham 2-1 Bristol City
• Brentford 3-4 Nottingham Forest
• Cardiff 3-0 Aston Villa
• Derby 0-2 Wolves
• Hull 4-1 Burton
• Leeds 0-0 Preston
• Millwall 1-1 Bolton
• Reading 1-1 Fulham
• Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 QPR
• Middlesbrough v Sheffield United (17:30 BST)

Image source, Empics

Phew - time to breathe after a frantic day of Championship action.

Want to sing the praises or condemn the performance of your team? Get in touch using #bbcefl.

We'll have live text commentary of Middlesbrough v Sheffield United on the way, plus reaction from some of today's EFL matches.

• Adebayo Akinfenwa scores twice, his first goals of the season, as three first-half strikes are enough for Wycombe to win 3-2 at Port Vale.
• Yeovil bounce back from last weekend's 8-2 humbling, coming from behind to triumph 3-2 at home to Accrington.
• Crewe play for more than 70 minutes with 10 men, but Chris Dagnall scores as they come from behind to draw 1-1 with Newport.

• On-loan Rotherham striker Kieffer Moore scores a first-half hat-trick as the Millers thrash Southend 5-0.
• Tony Mowbray's Blackburn side score a late consolation but lose 3-1 at home to Doncaster to remain without a point.
• Peterborough make it two wins from two, Jack Marriott scoring a hat-trick in their 4-1 victory at Bristol Rovers.

• Cardiff make it two wins from two, as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing's doubles sees the Welsh club to a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa.
• Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Ipswich all win to maintain their 100% starts to the campaign.
• Fulham have Tomas Kalas sent off after 39 seconds but score a late equaliser to draw at Reading.
• Abel Hernandez scores a hat-trick in Hull's 4-1 victory over Burton.

Full-time whistles are being blown across the country after a frantic afternoon of EFL action.

We'll have a full round-up of all the scores in a few moments' time.

Image source, Rex Features

Not the performance Gary Rowett was expecting from his Derby side today.

Bradley Johnson blazes over the bar as they try to get back in contention against Wolves, who are showing why they were among the pre-season favourites for promotion.

Image source, Empics

A lifeline for Bristol City as Birmingham have Maikel Kieftenbeld dismissed for a late challenge.

It's a straight red card for the Dutchman, and comes after he tried to win a loose ball.

Image source, Rex Features

They started the afternoon top of the Championship and scored the first goal of the day in the EFL - was it all too good to be true for Bristol City?

Jacques Maghoma finds the corner after beating two defenders to put Harry Redknapp's Birmingham 2-1 up at St Andrew's.