Parachute unfurled, as Leeds United come in to land on the Championship again this August, they absolutely need to hit the ground running. Had the fixture planners given them an easier start there may have been a stewards’ inquiry.
Between the opening day, a televised Sunday afternoon home game with Cardiff City, and the end of October, Leeds face 10 of the 12 lowest-ranked sides based on last term’s positions. In the opening five matches alone there are three of the four lowest-placed teams of last season.
The pressure will be on the new boss immediately. Whoever the Whites were given across the opening six to eight weeks, if they were struggling to keep pace with the top six there would be big questions being asked.
With this set of fixtures, it is essential a statement is made by United from the off. The next head coach, still not through the door at the time of writing, needs to have his side purring from the first weekend onwards.
READ MORE: Key Leeds United Championship dates as fixtures show gruelling winter runs
For every up there must be a down, however. United’s biggest rivals, on paper, await in a boggy December before the kind of run-in which already has Sky rubbing their hands together. Five of last season’s top 10 await Leeds from November 29 to December 16.
Then, across the final six matches, five of 22/23’s best-ranked sides will really test United’s bottle if they have promotion within their grasp by that point. Coventry City, Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers, Middlesbrough and Southampton, on the final day, will all hope to scotch Leeds hopes.
Endurance will be tested in the Championship. Not only are there 46 games, but eight 7.45pm kick-offs and some car-punishing trips too. Between mid-January and mid-February, at the coldest point of the season, the EFL really has its fun.
A trip to Cardiff on January 13 is followed by Ashton Gate on February 3. Just 10 days later the United faithful are asked to head back down the M5 and onto Swansea for a Tuesday-night kick-off.
Supporters may as well stay and set off for United’s next game once full-time at Liberty Stadium arrives. Four days after that night match in Swansea, it’s Plymouth Argyle away.
The evening kick-off at Swansea is the worst of the night matches. Stoke City on a Tuesday night in October will be a pain, but nothing like south Wales.
Tyler Roberts could face his old side as soon as the second weekend on August 12. Carlos Corberan is currently set to visit Elland Road on August 19, while Neil Warnock gets his reunion on October 28.
