Preston opener for City, while Rovers start against Pompey
BRISTOL City will welcome Preston North End to Ashton Gate for their first fixture of the 202324 season before an imposing away trip to take on Millwall.
Nigel Pearson’s side have three away trips inside their opening five matches, all of which are against familiar Championship opposition with dates on the road in south-east London, Hull City and Swansea City.
Their first games against the newer sides in the second tier is a midweek South West match-up against Plymouth Argyle on September 19. That’s followed by a game that will no doubt be close to Pearson’s heart as the Robins take on relegated Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
City are away on Boxing Day at Watford before welcome Gary Rowett’s Millwall to BS3 on New Year’s Day. The Severnside Derby dates fall on October 28 at Cardiff City Stadium, with the Bluebirds back at Ashton Gate on March 2.
Other away days that will be of interest to supporters are Southampton (Nov 29), Leeds United (Oct 7) and Mark Ashton’s Ipswich (March 5). City close their campaign off at Stoke City, with their final game at home being against Rotherham United in the preceding weekend.
Speaking to the Bristol Post this week, in a message likely to be repeated by Pearson, City CEO Phil Alexander outlined the Robins target of mounting a top-six challenge after three seasons of steady and patient growth and rebuilding.
Bristol Rovers will kick off the League One season with a trip to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth before welcoming Barnsley to the Memorial Stadium for their first home fixture of the campaign.
Rovers face a challenging opening against two of the sides expected to compete for promotion, with the visit of Wycombe Wanderers to north Bristol also among their first set of matches. The Gas are on the road for opening day due to the Balloon Fiesta falling on the second weekend of the season, meaning Bristol City have to be at home for August 5.
The Barnsley game is significant because the Tykes will provide the opposition for what is planned to be the new South Stand, although there has been no fresh updates on the project for the club and their planning application is yet to appear on Bristol City Council’s public portal.
Fans will no doubt look forward to welcoming Jon Brady’s Northampton Town to BS7, renewing their rivalry from the end of the 2021-22 League Two season when the Gas were promoted at the expense of the Cobblers following their 7-0 win over Scunthorpe United.
Rovers have Pompey at the Mem on Boxing Day with a New Year’s Day trip to Wycombe’s Adams Park, while the away day that supporters look forward to at Blackpool falls on the weekend before Christmas.
The Gas will close out the season with a short journey up the M5 to take on Cheltenham Town and a considerably longer route to Wigan Athletic, either side of Peterborough playing at the Mem.
Joey Barton’s squad are due back for pre-season on Monday, with their first friendly of the summer against Melksham Town a week on Friday.