GAVIN BAZUNU’S Southampton will take on Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in the opening match of the new Championship season on Friday, 4 August.
Beginning life under new boss Russell Martin, the relegated Saints face a Wednesday outfit back in the second tier after winning the League One play-offs last month and currently managerless after parting company with Darren Moore.
Leicester, under new boss Enzo Maresca, and Leeds – the two other clubs to have dropped down from the Premier League – kick off their campaigns two days later at home against defeated play-off finalists Coventry and Cardiff respectively.
The other game that day sees Sunderland entertain promoted Ipswich, while League One champions Plymouth open by hosting Huddersfield the day before.
Southampton’s first home game of the campaign will be against Norwic City – who recently tied down Adam Idah to a new deal – the following Saturday, when Leicester travel to Huddersfield and Leeds are at Birmingham.
The final day of the regular Championship season on 4 May will see Leeds and Southampton go head to head at St Mary’s, while Leicester host Blackburn.
The opening round of League One fixtures on 5 August includes James McClean’s Wigan, who finished bottom of the Championship last term, playing at Derby as they start their season on minus eight points after being penalised over payment of wages.
Ireland international Jason Knight may have departed Derby by then, with Bristol City keen on the midfielder. The Championship side, who already have Callum O’Dowda and Mark Sykes in their ranks, host a Preston side with Alan Browne and Robbie Brady on the opening day.
Fellow relegated sides Reading and Blackpool begin at home against Peterborough and Burton respectively, while Barnsley, who missed out on promotion to Wednesday, welcome Port Vale to Oakwell.
In League Two, the return of Wrexham – owned by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney – to the Football League, starts with a home clash against MK Dons.
Thursday’s release of the new season’s EFL fixtures also shows National League play-off winners Notts County beginning their own comeback campaign by playing Sutton away.
