Of course, much will depend on whether they are able to keep hold of key assets such as captain James Ward-Prowse. The Saints' 11-year stint in the Premier League came to an end last season and, as ever, as one of the relegated sides with parachute money to burn, they will be among the favourites to make an early return to the top flight. Southampton (h), September 2Ĭoventry might be the first real test, but the visit of Southampton a week later will be tougher still. If Sunderland are once again challenging for the play-offs, Coventry are likely to be there or thereabouts too.
It has been a story of constant progression for Coventry in the Championship under Mark Robins, finishing 16th, 12th, and then fifth, and they will be aiming to improve on that still further this season. The Sky Blues finished one place and one point above the Black Cats last season, but progressed further in the play-offs after beating Middlesbrough in the semi-finals - only to lose in the final at Wembley to Luton Town, who had beaten Sunderland in the other semi. Sunderland's first real test comes at the end of August when they visit the CBS Arena to take on Coventry City.
For their part, Ipswich will have looked at this fixture and taken a deep breath - they know they are in for a tough evening in front of a big crowd on Wearside.
Kieran McKenna's Tractor Boys finished as runners-up in League One last season with 98 points, so they must not be underestimated.īut, at home, Sunderland will feel that this is a good opportunity to get off to a winning start against a team that has not yet had time to get to grips with life in the Championship.
PROMOTED TO LEAGUE 2 SURVIVAL ARENA FULL
READ MORE: Sunderland's 2023-24 Championship fixture list in full with Ipswich Town at home on opening weekend Ipswich Town (h), August 6Ī good start is always important, and Sunderland have the chance to make an early mark against newly-promoted Ipswich - one of Tony Mowbray's former clubs - in front of the TV cameras at the Stadium of Light on the opening weekend of the campaign. Our Sunderland AFC writer James Hunter takes a look at some of the games that could have a major bearing on the Black Cats' campaign. Reaching the play-offs last season was an unexpected bonus, but it will only serve to raise expectations ahead of the new campaign and anything less than a play-off spot will seem like a backwards step, albeit the competition is likely to be even tougher this term given the fact that all three teams relegated from the top flight - Southampton, Leicester City, and Leeds United - will be expected to challenge for automatic promotion. But aside from those bookend fixtures, there are crucial games - some obvious, some less so - that could have a big impact on the club's season. Sunderland's second season in the Championship sees them take on newly-promoted Ipswich Town at the Stadium of Light in a live televised game on the opening weekend of the season in early August, and ends with another home game against another newly-promoted side in Sheffield Wednesday at the beginning of May. The Black Cats outperformed all expectations last season on their return to the Championship, following up their promotion from League One via the play-offs but immediately securing a top six finish in the second tier before losing out in the play-off semi-finals against Luton Town, who went on to win at Wembley and reach the Premier League.
Now the fixtures are out, the countdown to the new season is under way and Sunderland fans will have already started picking out the key dates.
0 kommentar(er)
