Monday, December 23, 2024

Championship fixtures: Promoted Derby open at Blackburn, Sheffield United at Preston

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Portsmouth ended their 12-year stay out of the Championship last season as they won the League One title.

After a trip to Elland Road on the opening day they then face relegated side Luton at home the following weekend before making the long trip to Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough in their third league match of the campaign.

Oxford United won promotion back to the second tier through the play-offs to end their own 25-year wait to play at this level and start with a home game against Norwich, who will be under the management of Johannes Hoff Thorup for the first time.

New Hull City boss Tim Walter will hope to get off to a good start in his new role when they welcome Bristol City on the opening day, while Sunderland’s new boss Regis Le Bris will take his men to Cardiff.

The other opening weekend games see Boro host Swansea, Millwall welcome Watford, beaten play-off semi-finalists West Bromwich Albion travel to Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City entertain Coventry.

Burnley are currently without a manager after Vincent Kompany left to take over Bayern Munich last month and they welcome east Lancashire rivals Blackburn for the first derby of the season on Saturday, 31 August after starting at fellow relegated side Luton.

Sheffield United, who claimed just 16 points as they slumped out of the Premier League in 2023-24, host Queens Park Rangers after their opening day trip to Preston.

The first Steel City derby of the season is scheduled for Bramall Lane on Saturday, 9 November.

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