Championship challenge will be toughest in years, says Grayson

The 2011-12 campaign got under way in Yorkshire last night when Hull City hosted newly-relegated Blackpool at the KC Stadium in a fixture that was shown live around the world.

It is today, however, when the action really kicks-off for the vast majority of clubs on an afternoon when Leeds head to Southampton and Doncaster Rovers become the first visitors to Brighton’s new £100m stadium.

Barnsley also have a mouthwatering opening day in the Championship thanks to being handed a trip to Steve McClaren’s Nottingham Forest, while Middlesbrough host Portsmouth.

All four Yorkshire sides will be hoping to start positively in a division that Grayson believes will be much harder to prosper in than last term.

The Leeds manager said: “The Championship is going to be much tougher this time. The two teams that have come up, Southampton and Brighton, have shown their intentions right away.

“Brighton, in particular, proved that by signing Craig Mackail-Smith (from Peterborough United in a £3.25m deal) when he seemed set for the Premier league. They will also have the momentum caused by winning promotion and moving to a new ground.

“Southampton brought in Jack Cork for £1m and put a big money bid in for (Doncaster Rovers striker) Billy Sharp. So, they are clearly aiming high.

“When you throw in West Ham and Leicester plus all the teams who under-achieved last year such as Ipswich, who have spent a big part of the Connor Wickham money, then it is clear that the Championship is going to be incredibly competitive.”

Leeds are rated by the bookmakers as one of several teams to have a chance of forcing their way into the promotion race and Grayson expects his side to again be a notable scalp in the Championship.

He said: “Leicester will probably be the team everyone wants to beat, just because of the manager’s reputation and who they have brought in. I think they will feel the pressure that the profile brings.

“West Ham will also be a big scalp as everyone likes to beat a team who have just been relegated from the Premier League.

“As for ourselves, there is always extra pressure when we play teams because of the fans we take everywhere. I would bet that we will take more fans away again this time than anyone else in the Championship.”

In League One, Huddersfield Town kick off their campaign at home to Bury as Lee Clark’s side look to make it third time lucky after losing in the play-offs two seasons running.

Sheffield United’s first game after relegation to League One is away at Oldham Athletic.

New manager Danny Wilson has targetted an instant return to the Championship but says the Latics will provide one of his side’s ‘sternest tests’ of the season.

“We are looking to get off to a good start,” he said. “However, Oldham are an established League One side who understand what this division is all about. They will make it very difficult for us and the pitch at Boundary Park always seems tighter than at other places.”

Sheffield Wednesday host Rochdale with manager Gary Megson insisting that his squad needs more players.

The bookmakers regard the Owls as second favourites for promotion from League One but Megson said: “You can’t have a Blackpool donkey and say you want to win the Grand National!

“At the moment, I see we are second favourites – but I don’t know why? The squad is not big enough and we finished 15th last year. We have let more players go than we have brought in and the wage bill has dropped dramatically. They are making us favourites purely on history rather than what this club actually is.”

Peter Jackson will be looking to start his reign as permanent manager of Bradford City with victory at home to Aldershot Town.

Rotherham United host Oxford United at the Don Valley Stadium.