Football Robins start at home again but Rovers open at Mansfield
FBOR the sixth straight season, Bristol City will begin their Championship campaign at Ashton Gate, with a match against newly-promoted Blackpool on August 7.
The Tangerines are the visitors to BS3 in what represents a very agreeable start to the 2021-22 campaign for Nigel Pearson’s team as they look to address their dreadful form throughout 2021, which includes not having won a home game since January.
City’s opening five fixtures also includes back-to-back matches against south Wales neighbours Swansea and Cardiff, with the first Severnside derby of the season at the Bluebirds on August 28.
In their first match against the relegated teams - who will likely again be among the strongest in the division - City welcome Bobby Reid and Joe Bryan back to Ashton Gate on September 25 with the visit of Fulham.
City are away on Boxing Day with a trip to Kenilworth Road to face Luton but have a home match on New Year’s Day against Millwall, three days after they face QPR in BS3 in the traditionally hectic festive programme.
As for the run-in, three of City’s final five matches are away from home, at Stoke, Derby and Huddersfield, with Sheffield United and then Hull City the final visitors to the West Country before the play-offs begin.
It should also be noted that, as it stands Derby’s position in the Championship remains uncertain with the Rams subject to an EFL disciplinary procedure due to a charge of breaking financial fair play rules over player amortisation. Derby have been fined £100,000 and ordered to resubmit their accounts which could lead to a points deduction and Wycombe Wanderers replacing them for 2021-22. RISTOL Rovers will begin their League Two campaign under Joey Barton with a trip to Mansfield Town before welcoming Stevenage to the Memorial Stadium on August 14, for what could be the return of fans to BS7.
The 2021-22 League Two fixtures have been confirmed, mapping out the Gas’ schedule over the nine months of the season with Rovers encountering a West Country derby against Exeter
within their first five matches and lengthy away trips to Barrow and Hartlepool across the opening weeks.
The first M4 derby of the campaign against Swindon Town is on October 2, with the return fixture on January 22, while Rovers tackle near-neighbours Newport County on October 23 at the Memorial Stadium.
Darrell Clarke’s return to north Bristol, as Port Vale manager, will be on December 7 as last season’s visit was played behind closed doors due to the pandemic.
In terms of the festive fixture list, Rovers are home to newlypromoted Sutton United on Boxing Day and then have a New Year’s Day in the capital against Leyton Orient.
The run-in to the season sees them play three of the final five games at the Mem with Salford City, Forest Green and Scunthorpe the visitors. That last fixture is also their concluding match of the campaign on May 7.
Barton is, of course, targeting promotion at the first time of asking following a deeply painful and forgettable 2020-21 campaign, with the Gas immediately installed as one of the favourites in League Two.