Sunderland to kick off Championship season with home clash against Derby County

Relegated Sunderland will get the new Championship season underway with a clash against Derby County at the Stadium of Light on Friday, August 4.

The Black Cats, who remain without a permanent manager following David Moyes's departure, have a tough start to the campaign.

The North-East outfit will take on Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United and Barnsley in the opening month, and three of those fixtures are away.

Garry Monk, who was recently appointed the new Middlesbrough manager, will coach his first competitive match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and his first home game of the season will see Sheffield United visit the Riverside.

As for League One, demoted Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic and Rotherham United will take on Southend United, MK Dons and Fleetwood Town in their opening matches respectively.

Down in League Two, new boys Forest Green Rovers will begin their campaign with a home clash against Barnet, while fellow promoted side Lincoln City will go on the road to face Wycombe Wanderers.

Championship opening weekend:

August 4-6

Sunderland vs. Derby
Bristol City vs. Barnsley
Ipswich Town vs. Birmingham
Sheffield United vs. Brentford
Burton Albion vs. Cardiff City
Fulham vs. Norwich City
Wolves vs. Middlesbrough
Nottingham Forest vs. Millwall
Preston vs. Sheffield Wednesday
QPR vs. Reading
Aston Villa vs. Hull City
Bolton Wanderers vs. Leeds United

League One opening weekend:

August 5

Bury vs. Walsall
Charlton Athletic vs. Bristol Rovers
Doncaster Rovers vs. Gillingham
Fleetwood Town vs. Rotherham United
Milton Keynes Dons vs. Wigan Athletic
Oldham Athletic vs. Oxford United
Peterborough United vs. Plymouth Argyle
Portsmouth vs. Rochdale
Scunthorpe United vs. A.F.C. Wimbledon
Shrewsbury Town vs. Northampton Town
Southend United vs. Blackburn Rovers

League Two opening weekend:

August 5

Accrington Stanley vs. Colchester United
Carlisle United vs. Swindon Town
Chesterfield vs. Grimsby Town
Coventry City vs. Notts. County
Crawley Town vs. Port Vale
Crewe Alexandra vs. Mansfield Town
Exeter City vs. Cambridge United
Forest Green Rovers vs. Barnet
Luton Town vs. Yeovil Town
Morecambe vs. Cheltenham Town
Stevenage vs. Newport County
Wycombe Wanderers vs. Lincoln City