Boro begin with Blades

17 June 2009 09:08
Middlesbrough will welcome Sheffield United to the Riverside on the opening day of the Championship season as they aim to make an instant return to the Premier League. Gareth Southgate's men will lock horns with Kevin Blackwell's side on August 8 before travelling to Swansea on August 15 and Scunthorpe on August 18. Boro then host Doncaster on August 22 as they adapt to life back in the second tier. They make the familiar trip to local rivals Newcastle on December 19 with the return fixture falling on March 13. Christmas sees them welcome Scunthorpe on Boxing Day before travelling to Barnsley on December 28, while Easter brings about a home game with Crystal Palace (April 3) and a mammoth journey to Plymouth (April 5). Southgate will be hoping his side will have already secured a path back to the Premier League by the time their season ends at Leicester on May 2.

Source: Eurosport