Bristol City have the easiest start to the new Championship campaign - on paper at least, as only one of the Robins opening six opponents finished in the top half of the league last season.
The Robins start the season against Hull, who finished 19th in the Championship last season. Sunderland are next and finished 5th in League One, which is the 49th spot in the football pyramid. Wigan finished top of League One (45th overall), Luton Town finished 6th in the Championship, Cardiff City 18th, and Blackpool 16th.
That gives an average of 38.8 in the football pyramid, which is equivalent to 18.8 in the Championship. Granted, squads and players change between last season and such is the unpredictability of the second tier, it's hard to pinpoint, outside of clubs coming down from the Premier League who will definitely be strong next season, but it's an agreeable start for Nigel Pearson's side.
Coventry have the next easiest start on paper, with their opening six opponents having an average finishing position of 18.5 last season, followed by Norwich (17.2), Preston (15.5), and Rotherham (15.3).
By contrast, City's first opponents of the season, Hull City, have the toughest start. After hosting the Robins they have an away trip to Preston, who finished 13th in the Championship last season, followed by a home game against Norwich (20th in the Premier League), Burnley away (17th in the Premier League), West Brom away (10th in the Championship), and Coventry at home (12th in the Championship).
Overall, those opponents had an average finishing position of 28.3 in the English football pyramid last season. That’s equivalent to 8.3 in the Championship.
The opening six opponents of no other club in the division have a higher average than those of Hull. Huddersfield and West Bromwich Albion have the next highest averages at 9.0 each. Watford’s opening six opponents have an average of 9.5, Sheffield United’s have one of 9.7, and Sunderland’s have an average of 9.8.
Toughest starts in the Championship
- Hull City: 8.3
- Huddersfield Town: 9.0
- West Bromwich Albion: 9.0
- Watford: 9.5
- Sheffield United: 9.7
- Sunderland: 9.8
- Wigan Athletic: 10
- Millwall: 11.2
- Burnley: 11.3
- Luton Town: 11.3
- Stoke City: 12
- Swansea City: 12
- Blackburn Rovers: 12.7
- Blackpool: 12.7
- Middlesbrough: 12.7
- Birmingham City: 12.8
- Cardiff City: 13.5
- Reading: 14
- Queens Park Rangers: 14.2
- Rotherham United: 15.3
- Preston North End: 15.5
- Norwich City: 17.2
- Coventry City: 18.5
- Bristol City: 18.8
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