West Brom set to navigate tricky Championship opening with Leeds coming to town

The schedule for the Baggies' 2024/25 league campaign has been confirmed, subject to change for television broadcast, as supporters scramble to mark dates in their calendar and plan ahead.

First on the agenda is a trip to QPR's Loftus Road on August 10 for a 12.30pm curtain-raiser with Carlos Corberan set to lock horns with compatriot Marti Cifuentes after a thrilling 2-2 draw there in March. All Championship fixtures that day kick off at lunchtime, bar a couple of Friday night fixtures.

Then it is the visit of the beaten play-off finalists from last season, Corberan's former side Leeds, to The Hawthorns for a tantalising first home game of the new campaign on August 17. The Whites were beaten to promotion at Wembley by Southampton, who edged out the Baggies in the semi-final. Albion face Stoke (a) and Swansea (h) to wrap up August before the first international break of the campaign.

Supporters will doubtless look to book in their festive and New Year trips and parties and Albion's schedule sees them on the road twice between Christmas and New Year's Day.

First up Boxing Day brings a trip to newly-promoted Derby County after the Rams secured their second-tier return following a two-year exodus. Three days later on December 29 Corberan and his troops visit Sheffield United, relegated from the Premier League after a single-season stay.

New Year's Day sees the Baggies welcome Preston to The Hawthorns. Like last season, there is an early January trip to Swansea, three days later.

The Championship campaign draws to a close on May 3 at The Hawthorns against Luton after the Hatters' season in the top flight. A busy six-game month in April, where so much could be on the line, brings clashes against Sunderland (h), Bristol City (a), Watford (h), Coventry (a), Derby (h) and Cardiff (a).

The Easter weekend double header is at Coventry on Good Friday (April 18) and at home to Derby (April 21).

A couple of away trips that may draw the attention of Baggies supporters are visits to Portsmouth's Fratton Park and Oxford's Kassam Stadium, both relatively early in the campaign.

Albion head to Pompey on September 14 for a first competitive trip to Fratton Park since April 2009, where Jonathan Greening and Chris Brunt netted in a 2-2 draw prior to relegation.

The Baggies have yet to play a competitive fixture at Oxford's Kassam since the start of the new millennium. The last trip was in September 1998, a 3-0 defeat for the visitors in the second tier.

Midweek fixtures include a home clash against Middlesbrough (October 1), a trip to Blackburn (October 23), the visit of relegated Burnley (November 5) and a long trip to Sunderland on November 26.

Coventry come to The Hawthorns in midweek on December 11 before Albion get back on the bus for another lengthy midweek jaunt to Middlesbrough on January 21.

The visit of Blackburn on February 12 is a Wednesday before the Baggies go to Burnley on the night of March 11. The clash at Bristol City's Ashton Gate on April 8 is also midweek.