Five things to look out for on the EFL opening day

The EFL fixtures are out for the 2023/24 season!

Here are five things to look out for on one of the most important dates in the diary, the opening weekend…

Meeting in the middle

Newly promoted Sheffield Wednesday and recently relegated Southampton – who moved to appoint Russell Martin as their new manager yesterday – lock horns at Hillsborough in the Sky Bet Championship as the term gets underway.

The South Yorkshire side sealed promotion in dramatic fashion, despite being written off after losing 4-0 to Peterborough United in the first leg of the Semi-Finals. After coming back from the brink, Wednesday won the Final against local rivals Barnsley with the last kick of the game.

Last season, the two teams met in the Carabao Cup as the Owls and the Saints facing off for the first time in a decade, playing out a 1-1 draw as Southampton progressed on penalties. And it’s been even longer since they went head-to-head outside of a cup competition, last meeting in League One back in March 2011.

New beginnings

Following a 15-year absence from the EFL, Wrexham begin their season on home soil at the Racecourse. The Welsh team, who are owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, were crowned National League champions last season, tallying a record-breaking 111 points.

After dropping out of the League in 2007/08, the Dragons are finally back and they take on Milton Keynes Dons, who were relegated to Sky Bet League Two, in the campaign’s curtain raiser.

For the Buckinghamshire team, new boss Graham Alexander will take charge of his first game at MK Dons, having last managed in England with Salford City 2020. Wrexham star Paul Mullin will also be making his EFL comeback. The striker finished as League Two’s top scorer in 2020/21 when he fired Cambridge United to promotion before making the switch to his current Club.

A familiar face

Huddersfield Town boss Neil Warnock steered the ship to safety last season to help the Terriers retain their Championship status, hailing his short stint back in West Yorkshire as his greatest achievement as a manager.

After agreeing to stay on with the Terriers for one more year, Huddersfield will travel to another of Warnock’s former teams, Plymouth Argyle, on the opening day.

The 74-year-old, who managed the Pilgrims between 1995 and 1997, leading the Club to Wembley glory in the Division Three Play-Off Final, admitted he had spoken to Plymouth manager Steven Schumacher on a handful of occasions last season to offer him advice. Now, he’ll be coming up against him in the dugout.

Derby day

Having already pencilled in a pre-season clash in warmer Spanish climes for mid-July, Charlton Athletic will host Leyton Orient at the beginning of August in a London derby in Sky Bet League One.

With the two teams jetting off abroad in preparation for the new season, a date has been put in the diary for a friendly fixture at the Marbella Football Centre and it’s a game that should give both teams an idea of how the opening game might pan out.

The O’s – skippered by former Charlton promotion winner Darren Pratley – claimed the League Two title last season to ascend under Richie Wellens, while Addicks boss Dean Holden, appointed in the role mid-way through last term, is gearing up for his first full season in the hotseat at The Valley.

Working together

Having come up together from League Two last season, Northampton Town welcome Stevenage to Sixfields when the promoted duo, who finished in third and second place respectively, kick off the campaign.

Boro boss Steve Evans is something of a promotion specialist in the EFL. The last time the Scot took a team to League One, he went on to achieve back-to-back feats when he won consecutive promotions with Rotherham United between 2012 and 2014, but can he do it again?