The tough start is for those facing Leeds United, insists Warnock

NEIL Warnock is aware that his Leeds side face a testing start to the new npower Championship season, but is hoping that rival clubs will also fear facing his men.

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The veteran boss has endured a frustrating summer so far, with his public rebuilding plans seemingly on hold as talks of an Elland Road takeover continue.

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Warnock does remain in office, though, despite press reports he was set to walk away from his job, and this morning was handed an opening-day tie at home to Wolves.

Tough trips to Blackpool and Peterborough follow that, before home meetings with Blackburn and Hull and a visit to Cardiff complete a gruelling opening six games.

“It’s a great fixture to start with. You really can’t have a better game,” Warnock said.

People talk about a tough start and it is, but the six teams we’ve got will also be looking at their starts and thinking: “We`ve got Leeds”.

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“It’s my job to make it as difficult as possible for those teams.”

While that fixture is one of the more attractive first-up encounters, there can be no arguments about Burnley against Bolton being the match of the day.

Bolton lost their Premier League status on the last day of last season, and with just 19 miles between them, a local derby was always going to be a tough opening.

Add in the fact that Wanderers manager Owen Coyle walked out on Burnley for Bolton in 2010, and the tie has even more riding on it, even if so early in the season.

The other relegated side, Blackburn, must head to Ipswich.

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All eyes will be on them after their disastrous fall out of the Premier League under their much-maligned manager Steve Kean, but Ipswich boss Paul Jewell knows how hard a game it will be.

“It doesn`t matter who you play first or last, you know it`s going to be a hard game,” he said.

“There are plenty of big clubs in the division who will feel they have the stadium and facilities worthy of the Premier League and getting back there will be the aim.”

The man Warnock replaced at Leeds, Simon Grayson, is already back in the Championship, having taken Huddersfield up through the play-offs.

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It was his third promotion and a vindication of why Town chairman Dean Hoyle moved quickly to snap him up.

Grayson never beat Cardiff in four attempts while with Leeds, but is hoping for better luck in his new colours after being handed a first-day trip to the Welsh capital.

“The fixture release day is always special no matter what league you are in, but it feels even more special following our promotion,” he told his club`s official website.

“Cardiff have been up in the play-offs for the last three or four seasons now and it will be a great game to start the season with.

“It`s so exciting for everyone.”

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The other two sides to get promoted last year, champions Charlton and runners-up Sheffield Wednesday, head to Birmingham and Derby respectively.

The Owls are sure to add something extra to the division, with manager Dave Jones no stranger to the top end of it after a long spell at Cardiff, and their fans also certain to travel in numbers.

“It`s a tough fixture to kick-off with because Wednesday will have a feel-good factor surrounding them after promotion last season, but it`s great to be at home on the first day,” said Derby boss Nigel Clough.

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“It has all the ingredients to be a cracking first game straight away.”

Much was expected of Leicester last season, but a season that started with a spending spree under the management of Sven-Goran Eriksson ended with a sobering mid-table position under the guidance of Nigel Pearson.

They have a strong squad, though, and with further additions expected, their opening day game with Peterborough could see them put a marker down.

Posh manager Darren Ferguson is not concerned about that, however, saying: “We know that Leicester are one of the big teams in this division and they and Cardiff City will be spending money during the summer.

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“However, we will go there with no fear. You have to play everybody at some point.”

Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest are at home to Bristol City, while new Hull manager Steve Bruce will start his KC Stadium career against Brighton.

Barnsley are at home to Middlesbrough, play-off final losers Blackpool go to Millwall and Crystal Palace face Watford.

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