Swansea at home first up on 9th August. A blazing hot day and 3,000 drunk Swansea fans out for their big day in the Smoke. We will need to be ready for them as they will play with the exuberance of a promoted side. Watford away and Reading at home follow in successive Saturdays before Preston away, Wolves at home and then aways at Doncaster (Tuesday) and Nottingham Forest.
All-in-all, that is not the start we would have preferred. Three home games from seven and those against a promoted side, a relegated side and an established Championship team. Two of the four aways are at other newly promoted clubs, Doncaster (Tuesday) and Forest. The others are toughies at Preston and Watford. So, Pards will need to ensure we are ready and let's hope we don't leave the summer signings until the end of July or else we may well be trotting out the "we haven't had time to gel" line.
Interesting to note that both Palace matches are Tuesday evenings and that we play Ipswich home and away during October. It's a shame that the Doncaster games are also Tuesdays as I know it would be one of the more popular away fixtures of the season. Boxing Day is an enjoyable home game against QPR but we have the, now familiar, nonsensical Christmas away fixture on Sunday 28th December when they are sending us to Sheffield United.
At this stage, at least the last four home games all look winnable; Preston, Birmingham, Blackpool and Norwich. Bring it on!
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There were only three teams I didn't want for the first game of the season - the promotees!
ReplyDeleteThe last home games do look winnable - but I thought that last season...
The logic for long distance away fixtures on bank holidays is ludicrous. All Quiet gives a link to the league site article on how they choose fixtures - this aspect doesn't seem to feature.