Championship 2017-18 fixtures: Hull City open at Steve Bruce's Aston Villa
Last updated on .From the section Football
Relegated Hull City begin their 2017-18 English Football League Championship season away against former manager Steve Bruce's Aston Villa side on Saturday, 5 August.
Sunderland, who finished below the Tigers and Middlesbrough at the bottom of the Premier League, start at home to Derby on Friday, 4 August.
Last season's beaten play-off finalists Reading are away at QPR.
League One champions Sheffield United begin at home against Brentford.
- Find your team's fixtures on the BBC Sport website by clicking here
- League One: Blackburn away at Southend on opening day
- League Two: Forest Green open at home to Barnet
Millwall, who beat Bradford in the play-off final at Wembley to join the Blades in England's second tier, travel to face two-time European Cup winners Nottingham Forest in their opening fixture.
League One runners-up Bolton Wanderers host Leeds United on Sunday, 6 August, while Middlesbrough, the third team to drop out of the top flight, are away against Wolves.
In League One, relegated Blackburn Rovers start with a trip to face Southend United and Forest Green Rovers are at home to Barnet in their first ever game in the Football League.
New men in charge
Following Hull boss Leonid Slutsky's first game in charge at Villa Park, his first league match at home is against Burton Albion, a club going into only their second season in the second tier.
Middlesbrough manager Garry Monk, another new boss at a club relegated from the Premier League last term, has an opening-day game against a Wolves side which will be managed for the first time by Nuno Espirito Santo, following the departure of Paul Lambert.
Monk will return to his former side Leeds on 18 November, a club that appointed ex-Apoel Nicosia manager Thomas Christiansen as his replacement.
Christiansen's first match at Elland Road will be against Preston North End - the side that finished just below them in the table as they both missed out on the play-offs last term.
Norwich will be another side looking towards the top six in 2017-18, and former Borussia Dortmund II coach Daniel Farke begins his tenure with a trip to Fulham.
The final of the three to have been relegated last term, Sunderland, are still managerless after Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes rejected the chance to join, but will hope to have someone in place for the match against Derby County in the opening game of the season.
Derby days
For the first time since 2011-12, Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United find themselves in the same division, following the Blades' promotion from League One last term and the Owls' Championship play-off semi-final defeat.
Wednesday host United at Hillsborough on 23 September, with the return fixture at Bramall Lane on 13 January.
After both of their relegations last term, Middlesbrough and Sunderland's first Tees-Wear derby of the season is on 4 November at the Riverside, before a trip to the Stadium of Light on 24 February.
Norwich and Ipswich's Old Farm Derby reignites on 21 October at Portman Road, while the first meeting of East Midlands rivals Derby County and Nottingham Forest is a week earlier, on 14 October.
Villa boss Bruce faces his old side Birmingham City at St Andrew's on 28 October, with the return on 10 February.
Opening weekend fixtures
Kick-off 15:00 BST unless stated
Friday, 4 August
- Sunderland v Derby County (19:45 BST)
Saturday, 5 August
- Bristol City v Barnsley
- Burton Albion v Cardiff City
- Fulham v Norwich City
- Ipswich Town v Birmingham City
- Nottingham Forest v Millwall
- Preston North End v Sheffield Wednesday
- Queens Park Rangers v Reading
- Sheffield United v Brentford
- Wolves v Middlesbrough
- Aston Villa v Hull City (17:30 BST)
Sunday, 6 August
- Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United (16:30 BST)
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Fixtures came out last week. You must have really cared about them.
If you are not interested in this, then why comment? There are many fans of EFL clubs.
Sure Leeds fans will look forward to having about 20 games on TV.
Utd first seven games: West Ham(H), Swansea(A), Leicester(H), Stoke(A), Everton(H), Southampton(A), Crystal Palace(H).
So should be the usual "easy" start for Utd.
However, the subject is Championship fixtures and it looks a tough start for Fulham: Norwich(H), Reading(A), Leeds(A), Sheff Wed(H). All teams in and around play-offs last year.
Obviously, i want my team to play in the EPL as its the highest standard of club football, but i would miss the championship. Proper teams, proper grounds and proper fans who create great atmospheres! I remember when Man Utd came to Pride Park last season in FA cup, about 4 away fans car shared back to Manchester, the rest where on the same bus as me!
No such thing as the EPL
Its the Premier League!
Nice to see you come out with the cliche people who pretend to think womens football is relevant always reach for
Who cares about these pub team fixtures? EPL top 4 is where its at.
Lets paint some home-truths - see if correct!
1. YOU don't actually go to EPL fixtures
2. YOU live a long way from the so called EPL Team you support
3. If your team drops out of top 4 you start to follow another team
4. If lower leagues dont interest you why are you commenting at 1200hrs
5. Unemployed
Mind you BB is quite right - the main stream media really aren't fussed about anyone or anything outside the top 8 of the Premier league.
I'm not sure too many people care to be honest
When are the PL fixtures released? The ones that really matter
As usual, I can imagine the usual tough start for Utd plus tough away games after European games. Its all random of course .. .
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You are very aptly named, Sir.