Aston Villa, Newcastle United start Championship season away from home
Aston Villa have been handed a trip to Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday on the opening weekend of the Championship season.
After a dismal Premier League campaign, Villa have appointed Roberto Di Matteo as their new manager and the Italian has been given one of the toughest possible starts away at last season’s playoff runners-up.
Newcastle United are also on their travels on the first day of the season, with their game against Fulham at Craven Cottage taking place on Friday, August 5
Norwich City will start their bid to earn a return to the top flight with an away match at Blackburn Rovers, while last year’s beaten playoff semi-finalists Derby County and Brighton & Hove Albion meet at the iPro Stadium.
Queens Park Rangers and Leeds United play each other at Loftus Road, with Championship newcomers Burton Albion will making the short trip to the East Midlands to face Nottingham Forest.
Reading welcome Preston North End to the Madejski Stadium, Birmingham City meet Cardiff City andHuddersfield Town square off against Brentford.
