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The 2014/15 season of the Sky Bet Championship will begin on Saturday 9th August.

• Replacing the three promoted and relegated teams from last season are Cardiff City, Fulham, Norwich City, Brentford, Rotherham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
• Derby County go into their first full season under the management of Steve McLaren following their 1-0 play-off final defeat least month against Queens Park Rangers.
• Pre-season managerial changes have already occurred at Blackpool, Brighton & Hove Albion, Charlton Athletic and Leeds United.

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Sky Bet Odds to win the Championship

7/1 Cardiff City

9/1 Derby County

10/1 Norwich City

10/1 Fulham

11/1 Wigan Athletic

14/1 Brighton & Hove Albion

16/1 Nottingham Forest

18/1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

18/1 Reading

20/1 Bolton Wanderers

20/1 Ipswich Town

20/1 Blackburn Rovers

20/1 Bournemouth

20/1 Middlesbrough

20/1 Leeds United

22/1 Watford

33/1 Sheffield Wednesday

33/1 Brentford

40/1 Rotherham United

40/1 Charlton Athletic

40/1 Millwall

40/1 Birmingham City

40/1 Huddersfield Town

66/1 Blackpool

 

Any early predictions?

Opening Fixtures

(To be played on the weekend of 9th August)

 

Friday 8th August

Blackburn Rovers v Cardiff City (19:45 kick-off)

 

Saturday 9th August

Brentford v Charlton Athletic

Brighton & Hove Albion v Sheffield Wednesday

Derby County v Rotherham United

Huddersfield Town v Bournemouth

Middlesbrough v Birmingham City

Millwall v Leeds United

Nottingham Forest v Blackpool

Watford v Bolton Wanderers

Wigan Athletic v Reading

Ipswich Town v Fulham (17:15 kick-off)

 

Sunday 10th August

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Norwich City (16:00 kick-off)

I am a Derby supporter so this is naturally the league I have the most interest in. I was at Wembley for the play-off final last month and when QPR had a player sent off and Derby completely dominated the majority of the match it was so difficult to watch that QPR goal go in a minute from the end. However hopefully last year's surprise success will translate into further success this year!

Shame to see Fulham in the championship, hope they shoot straight back up.

A very close game to start off with for Derby as was expected but very pleased to have come away with the win against Rotherham and the 3 points! Hopefully this is the start of what is hopefully going to be another great season for us.

I really think Middlesborough are going to have a great season.

 

Think (and hope) Derby go up too. McClaren always got too much stick, he's a very underrated coach. Really like him so I want him to do well.

Boro and Watford are my tips to do well from those outside of the obvious.

 

Have those 2, Derby, Forest, Norwich and Wigan for the top 6, the latter two being top 2.

 

Easy win for Forest today, a walk in the park which felt a lot like a pre-season game. Blackpool an absolute shambles.

Mark Robins has left Huddersfield by mutual consent!

Mark Robins has left Huddersfield by mutual consent!

 

I know they ended the season with a bad run of form, but these decisions always baffle me. So he spends a whole summer completing his squad, signing players he wants, then after a very bad result, he's sacked. Just doesn't make much sense to me.

Im worried for Brighton this season..don't look strong enough..many of our best players have gone/going and not a lot of top players to replace them!! hopefully we will add some before deadline day!!

Seems like Solskjaer has been fired as Cardiff manager, I'm not sure how long it is until Felix Magath follows him. I'm astonished by how poor Fulham have started the season.

Very early if so, Derby are playing Cardiff next so if it is true I hope they don't benefit from the "new manager" effect!

It has been confirmed that Solskjaer has left Cardiff City.

 

Surprised it took so long, but Magath has been sacked at Fulham.

I heard Craig Bellamy has ruled himself out of the Cardiff job. Who would want to manage Cardiff City?

Unfortunately a defeat for us (Derby) today, but still top of the table - couldn't have asked for a better response to May's play-off final defeat. Very pleased to see that there was no hangover from that into the new season.

Unfortunately a defeat for us (Derby) today, but still top of the table - couldn't have asked for a better response to May's play-off final defeat. Very pleased to see that there was no hangover from that into the new season.

 

Still think Derby will win the league comfortably, but it's looking very close as usual, with Middlesborough not too far behind.

I hope you're right! We've got a few "top-of-the-table clashes" coming up in the next few weeks with the likes of Middlesbrough, Norwich and Ipswich so if we are still looking good by the end of January then I'll start getting more confident but it can all go wrong yet! When we are on form though we are definitely unbeatable, the 5-0 win against Wolves was particularly incredible (although they have since fallen down the table!).

I need Derby to get promoted so United get 250,000 for Russell.

I've never been so interested in the Championship so much until this season, It's been a rather incredible couple of months and everything is so close.

Its so even, any team can beat any on their given day! Going to be a good final half.