Sunderland's 2023-24 Championship schedule offers early opportunities for Tony Mowbray and his team. The Black Cats kick-off their campaign - in front of the television cameras, naturally - against newly-promoted opposition in the shape of Ipswich Town on the Sunday of the opening weekend.
In front of a big crowd at the Stadium of Light, it is a chance for Sunderland to get off to a winning start, something they last achieved in the second tier back in 1998, against Kieren McKenna's side who amassed 98 points in League One last season and yet still only finished runners-up. That opening fixture will be followed by a midweek Carabao Cup game, and then the Black Cats' first Championship road trip comes the following weekend when they head to Preston North End.
It will be an early return to Deepdale for Sunderland, who won in Lancashire on the final day of last season to clinch sixth place and a place in the play-offs, while Preston's own play-off chances had faded late in the season and Ryan Lowe's side ended up finishing in midtable. From there, Sunderland are back on home territory as Rotherham United - who finished 19th last season - visit the Stadium of Light.
