THE 2023/24 campaign saw more than 12 million people attend matches in our EFL Championship which was a 22% increase on the previous season. Overall figures were greater than the Bundesliga in Germany, Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A.
Therefore, the Championship is the second highest attended football division in Europe behind the Premier League attracting huge betting activity.
A full set of fixtures for 2024/25 was released on Wednesday morning, so here is my analysis of the opening weekend to assist your Championship betting…
Friday 9th August
Blackburn Rovers v Derby County (8pm)
Blackburn Rovers
Final position 2023/24: 19th in the Championship
They avoided relegation by three points yet I wonder where Blackburn Rovers would have been without the prolific input of Championship leading scorer Sammie Szmodics who grabbed 33 League and Cup goals.
Derby County
Final position 2023/24: 2nd in League One
Derby County sealed League One automatic promotion on the final day courtesy of a 2-0 home victory over Carlisle United.
Preston North End v Sheffield United (8pm)
Preston North End
Final position 2023/24: 10th in the Championship
Preston North End were the early season pacesetters remaining unbeaten until late September before ultimately settling 10 points under the Play-Off mix.
Sheffield United
Final position 2023/24: 20th in the Premier League
Sheffield United only won three Premier League games throughout last season and finished rock bottom – some 16 points adrift of survival.
Saturday 10th August – all 12.30pm kick-offs
Cardiff City v Sunderland
Cardiff City
Final position 2023/24: 12th in the Championship
Cardiff City lost six of their last nine League games at the end of 2023/24.
Sunderland
Final position 2023/24: 16th in the Championship
Sunderland brought in Lorient boss Regis Le Bris over the weekend as their new head coach. He has signed a three year agreement.
The Black Cats had deployed no permanent manager since Michael Beale’s dismissal in February.
Hull City v Bristol City
Hull City
Final position 2023/24: 7th in the Championship
Hull City missed out on the Play-Offs by three points and quickly discharged head coach Liam Rosenior. Now ex-Hamburg boss Tim Walter assumes duties on a three year contract.
Bristol City
Final position 2023/24: 11th in the Championship
Bristol City’s momentum fizzled out due to two wins in their concluding six outings.
Leeds United v Portsmouth
Leeds United
Final position 2023/24: 3rd in the Championship
Leeds United are licking their wounds after narrowly going down 1-0 to Southampton in the Championship Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium.
Portsmouth
Final position 2023/24: 1st in League One
Pompey were worthy League One champions amassing a 10 point cushion ahead of third spot.
Middlesbrough v Swansea City
Middlesbrough
Final position 2023/24: 8th in the Championship
Middlesbrough enjoyed a strong denouement in 2023/24 losing just one of their closing 12 Championship engagements.
Swansea City
Final position 2023/24: 14th in the Championship
A mixed bag of fortunes for Swansea City following the introduction of head coach Luke Williams on January 5th.
Millwall v Watford
Millwall
Final position 2023/24: 13th in the Championship
Neil Harris returned to Millwall as head coach on 21st February. At that point, the Lions were one point above those relegation slots.
But an upturn in fortunes led to mid-table security including winning their final five games.
Watford
Final position 2023/24: 15th in the Championship
Watford have certainly underachieved in cementing 11th and 15th places during their two years beyond relegation from the Premier League.
Oxford United v Norwich City
Oxford United
Final position 2023/24: 5th in League One
Oxford United’s 2-0 triumph past Bolton Wanderers in the League One Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium propels them back into the second tier of English football for the first time since 1998/99 (then called Division One).
Norwich City
Final position 2023/24: 6th in the Championship
Norwich City have named former FC Nordsjaelland manager Johannes Hoff Thorup as their new head coach penning a three year deal.
Prior incumbent David Wagner was sacked following the Canaries’ 4-0 aggregate defeat versus Leeds United in the Championship Play-Off Semi-Finals.
Queens Park Rangers v West Bromwich Albion
Queens Park Rangers
Final position 2023/24: 18th in the Championship
Queens Park Rangers were 23rd in the table and six points shy of safety when they unveiled Marti Cifuentes as their head coach on 30th October.
He masterminded an incredible turnaround whereby the R’s completed their campaign six points clear of that much feared drop zone.
West Bromwich Albion
Final position 2023/24: 5th in the Championship
West Bromwich Albion surrendered 3-1 on aggregate to Southampton in the Championship Play-Off Semi-Finals.
Stoke City v Coventry City
Stoke City
Final position 2023/24: 17th in the Championship
Stoke City attained maximum points in the last three Championship encounters of 2023/24 without conceding a goal thereby squashing lingering relegation worries.
Coventry City
Final position 2023/24: 9th in the Championship
Coventry City did the Championship proud in reaching the FA Cup Semi-Finals. However their League form subsequently fell away and they eventually slumbered nine points short of the Play-Offs.
Sunday 11th August
Sheffield Wednesday v Plymouth Argyle (4pm)
Sheffield Wednesday
Final position 2023/24: 20th in the Championship
Wednesday evaded relegation by three points and will soon renew League rivalries against near neighbours Sheffield United for the first time in five years.
Plymouth Argyle
Final position 2023/24: 21st in the Championship
On escaping relegation by a solitary point, Plymouth Argyle have recruited former England captain Wayne Rooney as their new head coach.
He succeed Ian Foster who was fired on 1st April in light of a disappointing run of results.
Monday 12th August
Luton Town v Burnley (8pm)
Luton Town
Final position 2023/24: 18th in the Premier League
In their inaugural season as a Premier League outfit, Luton Town ended up six points below the dreaded dotted line.
Burnley
Final position 2023/24: 19th in the Premier League
Vincent Kompany’s managerial tenure at Turf Moor ceased in May with his move to Bayern Munich. A replacement appointment seems imminent.
The former Manchester United star Ruud van Nistelrooy is in the frame.
The 2024/25 English Football League fixtures are released at 9am on Wednesday 26th June 2024 and Championship supporters will be eagerly anticipating the opening weekend's matches.
Fans of every Championship, League One and League Two club will find out their fixture schedule for the new campaign and optimism will be high as supporters dream of securing promotion to the next tier.
The Football League will kick off on the weekend of 10th - 11th August 2024, with the final weekend of the regular season taking place on 2nd May 2025.
With 46 rounds of league action taking place across 33 weekends, nine midweek rounds and four Bank Holidays in the Championship, it looks set to be one of the best seasons yet.
Meanwhile, League One and League Two clubs will do battle over 36 weekends, with six midweek rounds and four Bank Holiday fixture lists.
As is tradition, the Football League playoff finals will take place over the 2025 May Bank Holiday Weekend but we've got nine months of exhilarating EFL action before then!
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
