Sun 3rd May - Deepdale
By Lewis Rutledge Last updated: 9th August 2008
The Championship season begins on Saturday and the action promises to be more competitive and entertaining than ever.
All 24 clubs will be dreaming of emulating West Brom, Stoke and Hull, who won promotion to the Premier League in May at the end of a dramatic campaign.
A number of issues were resolved on the final day and the new season looks set to be just as open and exciting.
It has been a busy summer of transfer activity in the Championship and there will be debutants galore in this weekend's first round of matches.
Nobody has tried harder to rebuild his side than Paul Jewell, who will be hoping there is no lingering effect from Derby's disastrous year in the top flight.
The Rams face newly promoted Doncaster in their opening game on Saturday, but it is another relegated side who kick off proceedings at lunchtime.
Birmingham have been installed as the favourites to win the Championship title and Alex McLeish's side take on Sheffield United, live on Sky Sports 2.
Swansea will be full of confidence after topping League One and could be one of the surprise packages but Roberto Martinez's men face a tough trip to The Valley to face Charlton.
Queens Park Rangers' progress will be watched with a lot of interest and Iain Dowie will be aiming for three points in his first game in charge as Barnsley visit Loftus Road.
There is also a new man at the helm at Southampton and Jan Poortvliet takes his young side to FA Cup finalists Cardiff looking to make a strong start to his reign.
Bristol City, who suffered play-off heartache at the end of last term, start against Blackpool, while Crystal Palace entertain Watford at Selhurst Park.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Coventry host Norwich, Ipswich meet Preston, Plymouth play Wolves and Burnley travel to Sheffield Wednesday.
On Sunday there is another game live on Sky Sports 2 and it is another clash between a relegated Premier League club and promoted League One outfit.
Nottingham Forest have been tipped to do well on their return to the second tier but Reading are expected to challenge for one of the top spots despite a couple of high-profile departures and Steve Coppell will be targeting three points at the City Ground.
Click below for individual match previews and stats

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 11th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Aldershot vs QPR |
| Tuesday 21st July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Forest Green vs QPR |
| Friday 24th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Oxford Utd vs QPR |
| Saturday 1st August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | QPR vs Southampton |
| Saturday 8th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | QPR vs Blackpool |
| Tuesday 11th August | |
| Carling Cup | |
| 19:45 | Exeter vs QPR |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Plymouth vs QPR |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Bristol City vs QPR |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | QPR vs Nottm Forest |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Scunthorpe vs QPR |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | QPR vs Peterborough |
| Tuesday 15th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | QPR vs Crystal Palace |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Cardiff vs QPR |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | QPR vs Barnsley |
| Wednesday 30th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Newcastle vs QPR |
| Saturday 3rd October | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Swansea vs QPR |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 3rd May | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Preston 2 - 1 QPR | |
| Saturday 25th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| QPR 0 - 0 Plymouth | |
| Saturday 18th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 0 QPR | |
| Monday 13th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| QPR 3 - 2 Sheff Wed | |
| Saturday 11th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Burnley 1 - 0 QPR | |
| Saturday 4th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| QPR 0 - 0 Crystal Palace | |
| Saturday 21st March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| QPR 2 - 1 Bristol City | |
| Tuesday 17th March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| QPR 1 - 0 Swansea | |
| Saturday 14th March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Southampton 0 - 0 QPR | |
| Tuesday 10th March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Doncaster 2 - 0 QPR | |
| Saturday 7th March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| QPR 0 - 0 Sheff Utd | |
| Tuesday 3rd March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| QPR 0 - 1 Norwich | |
| Saturday 28th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Barnsley 2 - 1 QPR | |
| Wednesday 25th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Cardiff 0 - 0 QPR | |
| Saturday 21st February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| QPR 1 - 3 Ipswich | |
| Saturday 7th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Nottm Forest 2 - 2 QPR | |
| Saturday 31st January | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| QPR 0 - 0 Reading | |
| Tuesday 27th January | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Blackpool 0 - 3 QPR | |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Derby 0 - 2 QPR | |
| Tuesday 13th January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Burnley 2 - 1 QPR | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Plymouth Argyle | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Preston North End | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Queens Park Rangers | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Reading | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Scunthorpe United | 0 | 0 |
Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of Lee Camp from Queens Park Rangers.
Roy Keane has strengthened his Ipswich squad with the acquisition of Damien Delaney from QPR.
Nottingham Forest have agreed an undisclosed fee to sign Lee Camp from Championship rivals QPR.
Skysports.com understands Ipswich are closing in on the signing of QPR defender Damien Delaney.
QPR midfielder Akos Buzsaky is confident he will be fit for the start of the new Championship season.