When does the Championship season start? What are the first games? Are they on TV?
ASTON VILLA, Newcastle and Norwich will all start their seasons a week earlier this year after relegation from the Premier League - but who will face who on the first weekend of the Championship?
Saturday August 6, Nottingham Forest v Burton, 3pm
Sunday August 7, QPR v Leeds, 12pm
Sunday August 7, Sheffield Wednesday v Aston Villa, 4.30pm
Which Championship games are on TV?
The curtain-raiser on Friday night will be live on Sky Sports 1 as heavy league favourites Newcastle look to start Rafa Benitez’s first season in the Championship with a bang.
Six-year-old Aston Villa fan reads out his letter to Jose Mourinho
On Sunday, QPR’s clash with Leeds at 12pm will also be live on Sky Sports 1.
And Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa will close out the weekend on the same channel as the second tier gets extra prominence with the Premier League season starting a week later.
What is the best game of the weekend?
There are some intriguing storylines even on the opening weekend and Newcastle’s attempt to do as they did seven years ago and win the league to bounce straight back to the Premier League.
However, Nigel Clough will take his Burton side to Nottingham Forest, a club where his father Brian is a legendary figure.
The best football of the weekend might be played at the iPro where Brighton, who narrowly missed out on promotion last year, face perennial title contenders Derby where Nigel Pearson is the new boss.
Who do the bookies think will win?
The first weekend might not go far towards deciding the winner of the Championship but it will give punters a better idea of which teams have sufficiently improved to challenge for the title.
Newcastle are big favourites at 19-10 with the two relegated clubs second and third, but at big prices.
Aston Villa (9-1) and Norwich (12-1) both look good value for money.
Nigel Pearson's Derby come in at 13-1 while Brighton are 15-1 to bounce back from the disappointment of missing out on promotion by winning the league.
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