Gary Rowett says the opening month of Derby County’s 2017/18 campaign will provide an early opportunity to ‘get an indication of the level of competition’ in the Sky Bet Championship.
Derby will kick off the new campaign with a trip to Sunderland on Friday 4th August 2017 (7:45pm), following the Black Cats’ relegation from the Premier League last season.
Following the clash with the Black Cats, Derby will play four more Championship fixtures before August is out.
They will face Wolverhampton Wanderers and Preston North End at home, before rounding off the month with visits to promoted League 1 sides Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United.
Rowett admits the opening month will provide a good indication of the level of competition in the division.
He told RamsTV: “I think this will give us an indication of the level of competition in the division – to play two of the teams that have gained promotion and also one the teams that have been relegated from the Premier League.
“You often find that the teams that get promoted get off to a good start.
“You saw that last season with Burton who did really well, but again you could throw three Championship names at me it’s going to be exactly the same challenge as playing Sunderland.
“There are going to be a real mix of teams in the division this year I think. You have got so many different nationalities in terms of managers and so many different potential styles of football.
“It really is what makes the division so exciting.”
The first month of the season will see Derby play, at the very least, six competitive fixtures.
As well as five league matches, the Rams also have a Carabao Cup First Round trip to Grimsby Town on the agenda.
Should they safely navigate their way past the Mariners, a Second Round tie will be played inbetween the Bolton and Sheffield Untied matches.
Rowett admits the opening month is ‘brutal’ and says his side will need elements of resilience to grind their way through the testing period.
“I think the opening month is brutal to have the cup game and play around seven games of football off the back of no competitive exposure,” he said.
“This is why in this division, there has to be elements of resilience in your team and there has to be elements of making sure your team can compete for these types of periods where you get lots of games building up.
“You really do need that type of consistency in this division.”
