EFL opening fixtures: Leeds host Cardiff, Wrexham at home to MK Dons

Leeds will restart life in the Championship against Cardiff at Elland Road, while Wrexham’s first Football League match since 2008 will be at home to Milton Keynes Dons. Those were among the eye-catching elements of the EFL fixture release for a season that kicks off on Friday 4 August, with promoted Sheffield Wednesday hosting relegated Southampton in the Championship.

Both teams will be under new managers when they get the ball rolling, with Darren Moore having left Hillsborough and Russell Martin in at St Mary’s. Other opening-weekend Championship fixtures include Plymouth v Huddersfield on Saturday 5 August, pitting the 74-year-old Terriers manager Neil Warnock against one of his former clubs.

ChampionshipFriday 4 August: Sheffield Wednesday v Southampton, 8pmSaturday 5 August (3pm): Blackburn Rovers v West Bromwich Albion; Bristol City v Preston North End; Middlesbrough v Millwall; Norwich City v Hull City; Plymouth Argyle v Huddersfield Town; Queens Park Rangers v Watford; Stoke City v Rotherham United; Swansea City v Birmingham CitySunday 6 August: Leicester City v Coventry City, noon; Leeds United v Cardiff City, 2.30pm; Sunderland v Ipswich Town, 5pm

League OneSaturday 5 August (3pm): Barnsley v Port Vale; Blackpool v Burton Albion; Bolton Wanderers v Lincoln City; Cambridge United v Oxford United; Carlisle United v Fleetwood Town; Charlton Athletic v Leyton Orient; Derby County v Wigan Athletic; Northampton Town v Stevenage; Portsmouth v Bristol Rovers; Reading v Peterborough United; Shrewsbury Town v Cheltenham Town; Wycombe Wanderers v Exeter City.

League TwoSaturday 5 August (3pm): Accrington Stanley v Newport County; Colchester United v Swindon Town; Crawley Town v Bradford City; Crewe Alexandra v Mansfield