Bristol City have been handed a decent start to their 2023/24 Championship season - on paper at least.
With the new fixtures released this morning for the upcoming Championship season, fans will be looking through the calendar eagerly to pick out the big games over the nine months between August and May 2024.
As always it’s vital to get a strong start to the league campaign and build momentum during the opening rounds. And with four games before the first international break, this first block of fixtures will be a great indicator of who has had the best pre-season, the strongest transfer window, and the most beneficial summer break.
But looking at their opening four games, the Robins have an easier start than most. Nigel Pearson's side host Preston North End (12th last season) on the opening day, before visiting Millwall (8th) ahead of games against Birmingham City (17th) at Ashton Gate and Hull City (15th) on the road. Their opponents’ average finishing position last season was 13.0, giving the Robins the 11th-easiest start to the season statistically.
For the purposes of the calculation, teams were ranked in order based on last season's finishing position, with the relegated Premier League sides highest and newly-promoted former League One sides lowest.
The toughest start to the season in theory goes to Coventry City, though. The Sky Blues, who lost in the play-off final to Luton Town, travel to recently relegated Leicester City on the opening day, before facing Middlesbrough (h) then playing Swansea City (a) and Sunderland (h).
That gives their opposition an average league position of 4.5 last season, higher than any other set of opponents in the league.
They are followed by West Brom (5.0), Rotherham (6.8) and Huddersfield Town (10.0).
Former Swansea boss and newly-appointed Southampton manager, Russell Martin, has been handed the easiest start on paper.
Saints’ first season in the second tier since 2011/12 starts with a trip to promoted Sheffield Wednesday, before hosting Norwich City, then meeting Plymouth Argyle (a) and Queens Park Rangers (h). That gives their opponents an average finishing position last year of 21.3, the lowest of any team in the Championship this coming season.
Championship clubs season start by difficulty
(Average league position of first four opponents from 2022/23)
- Coventry City - 4.5
- West Bromwich Albion - 5.0
- Rotherham United - 6.8
- Stoke - 10.0
- Middlesbrough - 10.0
- Ipswich Town - 10.3
- Norwich City - 10.3
- Swansea City - 10.8
- Cardiff City - 11.0
- Plymouth Argyle - 11.5
- Millwall - 11.8
- Birmingham City - 12.0
- Sheffield Wed - 12.0
- Bristol City - 13.0
- Blackburn Rovers - 13.5
- Preston - 14.3
- QPR - 14.5
- Hull City - 15.3
- Sunderland - 15.5
- Leicester City - 15.8
- Stoke City - 16.0
- Watford - 17.0
- Leeds United - 18.3
- Southampton - 21.3
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