Leeds United have been handed one of the easiest possible starts to their EFL 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 next nine months.
As always it’s vital to get a strong start to the league campaign and build momentum during the opening rounds. And the first block of four 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, Leeds have an easier start than most in theory. The Yorkshire club host Cardiff City on the opening day, then visit Birmingham City before games against West Brom (h) and Ipswich Town (a).
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Their opponents’ average finishing position last season was 18.3, giving Leeds the second-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.
But it’s another of last year’s relegated Premier League outfits that has it even better in theory. Former Swansea boss and newly-appointed Southampton manager, Russell Martin, has been handed the easiest start on paper.
The Saints’ first season in the second tier since 11/12 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.
After Southampton and Leeds, the easiest starts on paper go to Watford (17.0), Stoke City (16.0) and Leicester City (15.8)
Following Southampton, Leeds United, another relegated Premier League side, have the next easiest start.
The toughest start to the season in theory goes to Coventry City, though. The Sky Blues 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).
EFL Championship Clubs Opening Games By Difficulty
Club | Opp. Avg. League pos. 22/23 | First Four Opponents
Coventry City 4.5 - Leicester (a) Middlesbrough (h) Swansea (a) Sunderland (h)
West Bromwich Albion 5.0 - Blackburn (a) Swansea (h) Leeds (a) Middlesbrough (h)
Rotherham United 6.8 - Stoke (a) Blackburn (h) Sunderland (a) Leicester (h)
Huddersfield Town 10.0 - Plymouth (a) Leicester (h) Middlesbrough (a) Norwich (h)
Middlesbrough 10.0 - Millwall (h) Coventry (a) Huddersfield (h) West Brom (a)
Ipswich Town 10.3 - Sunderland (a) Stoke City (h) QPR (a) Leeds United (h)
Norwich City 10.3 - Hull (h) Southampton (a) Millwall (h) Huddersfield (a)
Swansea City 10.8 - Birmingham (h) West Brom (a) Coventry (h) Preston NE (a)
Cardiff City 11.0 - Leeds (a) QPR (h) Leicester (a) Sheff Wed (h)
Plymouth Argyle 11.5 - Huddersfield (h) Watford (a) Southampton (h) Birmingham (a)
Millwall 11.8 - Middlesbrough (a) Bristol City (h) Norwich (a) Stoke (h)
Birmingham City 12.0 - Swansea (a) Leeds (h) Bristol City (a) Plymouth (h)
Sheffield Wed 12.0 - Southampton (h) Hull (a) Preston NE (h) Cardiff (a)
Bristol City 13.0 - Preston NE (h) Millwall (a) Birmingham (h) Hull (a)
Blackburn Rovers 13.5 - West Brom (h) Rotherham (a) Hull (h) Watford (a)
Preston NE 14.3 - Bristol City (a) Sunderland (h) Sheff Wed (a) Swansea (h)
QPR 14.5 - Watford (h) Cardiff (a) Ipswich (h) Southampton (a)
Hull City 15.3 - Norwich (a) Sheff Wed (h) Blackburn (a) Bristol City (h)
Sunderland 15.5 - Ipswich (h) Preston NE (a) Rotherham (h) Coventry (a)
Leicester City 15.8 - Coventry (h) Huddersfield (a) Cardiff (h) Rotherham (a)
Stoke City 16.0 - Rotherham (h) Ipswich (a) Watford (h) Millwall (a)
Watford 17.0 - QPR (a) Plymouth (h) Stoke (a) Blackburn (h)
Leeds United 18.3 - Cardiff (h) Birmingham (a) West Brom (h) Ipswich (a)
Southampton 21.3 - Sheff Wed (a) Norwich (h) Plymouth (a) QPR (h)
