Derby County boss Nigel Clough is predicting Pride Park will be "full to bursting" on the opening day of the Championship season, with newly promoted Peterborough United the visitors.
Rams supporters are digesting the fixture list which has been announced today, which sees the club at home on the opening and closing day of the regular league season and at home on Boxing Day.
Nigel Clough said: "Fixture day is always exciting for the fans and I think it's great to be starting with a home game, albeit an extremely tough one.
"Peterborough are a fantastic side who have been together for some time and are used to winning football matches; to be honest I think it is as tough a fixture as we could have drawn first up.
"Likewise our second game of the campaign, away to Scunthorpe. We will certainly have to be ready to knuckle down from the first whistle because both these teams will have their tales up.
"Pride Park will no doubt be full to bursting on August 8th when we get underway. With it being Peterborough's first game back at this level they will no doubt sell out the away end and everyone knows how good our backing always is."
The Rams chief also gave reaction to the other fixtures but remained typically low key.
Nigel Clough continued: "We have to play each team twice, so it's pointless getting too engrossed in it.
"I'm pleased for the supporters that we are at home on Boxing Day though and I'm sure there are plenty of trips in there that they'll be relishing.
"Our focus now will be on getting the squad ready for season ahead and making sure we are in the best possible shape when the whistle blows at Pride Park on that opening weekend."
DERBY COUNTY - COCA-COLA FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
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Sat Aug 8 Peterborough United H
Tue Aug 11 Rotherham United A Carling Cup 1
Sat Aug 15 Scunthorpe United A
Tue Aug 18 Blackpool A
Sat Aug 22 Plymouth Argyle H
Wed Aug 26 Carling Cup 2
Sat Aug 29 Nottingham Forest A
Sat Sep 12 Sheffield United H
Tue Sep 15 Barnsley H
Sat Sep 19 Crystal Palace A
Wed Sep 23 Carling Cup 3
Sat Sep 26 Bristol City H
Tue Sep 29 Cardiff City A
Sat Oct 3 Sheffield Wednesday H
Sat Oct 17 Leicester City A
Tue Oct 20 Middlesbrough A
Sat Oct 24 Queens Park Rangers H
Wed Oct 28 Carling Cup 4
Sat Oct 31 Ipswich Town A
Sat Nov 7 Coventry City H F.A. Cup 1
Sat Nov 21 Swansea City A
Sat Nov 28 Reading H F.A. Cup 2
Wed Dec 2 Carling Cup 5
Sat Dec 5 West Bromwich Albion H
Tue Dec 8 Preston North End A
Sat Dec 12 Watford A
Sat Dec 19 Doncaster Rovers H
Sat Dec 26 Blackpool H
Mon Dec 28 Newcastle United A
Sat Jan 2 F.A . Cup 3
Wed Jan 6 Carling Cup Semi-Final (1)
Sat Jan 9 Scunthorpe United H
Sat Jan 16 Peterborough United A
Wed Jan 20 Carling Cup Semi-Final (2)
Sat Jan 23 F.A. Cup 4
Tue Jan 26 Plymouth Argyle A
Sat Jan 30 Nottingham Forest H
Sat Feb 6 Sheffield United A
Tue Feb 9 Newcastle United H
Sat Feb 13 Reading A F.A. Cup 5
Tue Feb 16 Preston North End H
Sat Feb 20 Swansea City H
Sat Feb 27 West Bromwich Albion A
Sun Feb 28 Carling Cup Final
Sat Mar 6 Watford H F.A. Cup 6
Sat Mar 13 Doncaster Rovers A
Tue Mar 16 Middlesbrough H
Sat Mar 20 Sheffield Wednesday A
Tue Mar 23 Queens Park Rangers A
Sat Mar 27 Leicester City H
Sat Apr 3 Coventry City A
Mon Apr 5 Ipswich Town H
Sat Apr 10 Barnsley A F.A. Cup Semi-Final
Sat Apr 17 Crystal Palace H
Sat Apr 24 Bristol City A
Sun May 2 Cardiff City H
Sat May 15 F.A. Cup Final
Copyright © and Database Right 2009 The Football Association Premier League Ltd / The Football League Ltd.
All rights reserved.
Compiled in association with Atos Origin. Fixtures are subject to change.
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