Sunderland can look forward to an easy start to their Championship campaign - statistically, at least. The 2023-24 EFL fixtures were published on Thursday, marking an important milestone in the build-up to the new season.
The Black Cats will take on newly-promoted Ipswich Town at the Stadium of Light on the opening weekend in the first of four league games in August. How each club fares in that initial block of fixtures will offer an early clue as to who has had the best pre-season, the strongest transfer window, and the most beneficial summer break.
Of course, much will depend on just who teams face in that initial four-game spell. And, crunching the numbers, Sunderland have an easier start than the vast majority of their Championship rivals.
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Following that first game against Ipswich in front of the TV cameras on Sunday, August 6, Tony Mowbray's side will head to Preston North End the following Saturday, and then host Rotherham United and travel to Coventry City on the subsequent weekends before the end of the month Their opponents' average finishing position last season was 15.5, giving Sunderland the sixth-easiest start to the season on paper.
