BLACKBURN Rovers will kick off the 2016-17 Championship campaign at home to relegated Norwich City – before making their way to Wigan Athletic to take on Owen Coyle’s former club.

Coyle’s first competitive game in charge of Rovers will take place on Saturday, August 6 when they welcome Norwich, who finished second from bottom in the Premier League last season, to Ewood Park.

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That is followed by trips to League One champions Wigan on Saturday, August 13 and, in the first midweek league game of the campaign, to Cardiff City on Tuesday, August 16.

Home clashes with Burton Albion (Saturday, August 20), who were automatically promoted alongside Wigan last season, and Fulham (Saturday, August 27) complete Rovers’ first month of Championship fixtures.

Coyle’s side will travel to League One play-off winners Barnsley on Boxing Day and Huddersfield Town on New Year’s Eve before entertaining title favourites Newcastle United, who were relegated from the Premier League along with Norwich and Aston Villa, on Monday, January 2 in a mouthwatering first match of 2017.

Rovers will be away to Nottingham Forest (Saturday, April 15) and at home to Bristol City (Monday, April 17) over the Easter weekend before completing their season at Brentford on Sunday, May 7.

Their final home game of the campaign will be against Villa on Saturday, April 29.

Rovers’ derbies with Preston North End will take place at Deepdale on Saturday, December 10 and at Ewood on Saturday, March 18.

All fixtures are subject to change.

BLACKBURN ROVERS’ 2016-17 CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES

06/08/2016 15:00 Blackburn Rovers v Norwich City

13/08/2016 15:00 Wigan Athletic v Blackburn Rovers

16/08/2016 19:45 Cardiff City v Blackburn Rovers

20/08/2016 15:00 Blackburn Rovers v Burton Albion

27/08/2016 15:00 Blackburn Rovers v Fulham

10/09/2016 15:00 Queens Park Rangers v Blackburn Rovers

13/09/2016 19:45 Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers

17/09/2016 15:00 Blackburn Rovers v Rotherham United

24/09/2016 15:00 Derby County v Blackburn Rovers

27/09/2016 19:45 Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield Wednesday

01/10/2016 15:00 Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers

15/10/2016 15:00 Blackburn Rovers v Ipswich Town

18/10/2016 19:45 Blackburn Rovers v Nottingham Forest

22/10/2016 15:00 Bristol City v Blackburn Rovers

29/10/2016 15:00 Blackburn Rovers v Wolverhampton

05/11/2016 15:00 Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers

19/11/2016 15:00 Blackburn Rovers v Brentford

26/11/2016 15:00 Newcastle United v Blackburn Rovers

03/12/2016 15:00 Blackburn Rovers v Huddersfield Town

10/12/2016 15:00 Preston North End v Blackburn Rovers

13/12/2016 19:45 Blackburn Rovers v Brighton

17/12/2016 15:00 Blackburn Rovers v Reading

26/12/2016 15:00 Barnsley v Blackburn Rovers

31/12/2016 15:00 Huddersfield Town v Blackburn Rovers

02/01/2017 15:00 Blackburn Rovers v Newcastle United

14/01/2017 15:00 Ipswich Town v Blackburn Rovers

21/01/2017 15:00 Blackburn Rovers v Birmingham City

28/01/2017 15:00 Fulham v Blackburn Rovers

31/01/2017 19:45 Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United

04/02/2017 15:00 Blackburn Rovers v Queens Park Rangers

11/02/2017 15:00 Rotherham United v Blackburn Rovers

14/02/2017 19:45 Sheffield Wednesday v Blackburn Rovers

18/02/2017 15:00 Blackburn Rovers v Derby County

25/02/2017 15:00 Burton Albion v Blackburn Rovers

04/03/2017 15:00 Blackburn Rovers v Wigan Athletic

07/03/2017 19:45 Blackburn Rovers v Cardiff City

11/03/2017 15:00 Norwich City v Blackburn Rovers

18/03/2017 15:00 Blackburn Rovers v Preston North End

01/04/2017 15:00 Brighton v Blackburn Rovers

04/04/2017 19:45 Reading v Blackburn Rovers

08/04/2017 15:00 Blackburn Rovers v Barnsley

15/04/2017 15:00 Nottingham Forest v Blackburn Rovers

17/04/2017 15:00 Blackburn Rovers v Bristol City

22/04/2017 15:00 Wolverhampton v Blackburn Rovers

29/04/2017 15:00 Blackburn Rovers v Aston Villa

07/05/2017 12:00 Brentford v Blackburn Rovers

Lancashire Telegraph: