…..Barnsley will head to Ashton Gate to kick off the 2017-2018 Championship campaign and a reunion with former head coach Lee Johnson.
The Reds will face a 193mile three and a half hour trip to Bristol City on Saturday 5th August meaning they make a long trip on the opening day of the season for the second year running (they had a 183 mile trek to Ipswich last year) to play at a ground where they have failed to win in any of their last 15 visits. Barnsley have also lost their opening fixture in each of the past four seasons and have not won on the opening day since 2012 when they defeated Middlesbrough 1-0 at Oakwell.
Following this they have back-to-back home games against the Tractor Boys and Nottingham Forest before the first South Yorkshire derby of the season- at promoted Sheffield United. The last time Barnsley travelled to Bramall Lane in the second tier a 2-2 draw in 2011 sent the Blades down to League One.
Barnsley complete a tough looking opening month with a home game against relegated Sunderland who are playing outside the Premier League for the first time since 2007.
The Reds finish the season with a trip to Pride Park to take on Derby County, a venue Barnsley have only ever won once at in a total of nine visits.
Other key dates are as follows:
- Sheffield Wednesday away (28th October)
- Leeds at home (25th November)
- Preston at home (Boxing Day)
- Sunderland away (New Year’s Day)
- Sheffield Wednesday at home (10th February)
- Sheffield United at home (7th April)
- Leeds away (21st April)
- Brentford at home (Final home game of the season 6th May)
Full fixtures can be found by clicking here