THE wait is over for football fans across the country with the release of the fixtures for the upcoming 2013/14 Football League season.
With fans now analysing their side's opening games, and run in to the end of the season, we've asked our editors and reporters to give their reaction to their club's fixtures. Click here to view the entire fixture list for Crystal Palace Click here to view the entire fixture list for Crawley Town Surrey Mirror Series News Editor David Blackmore (West Ham): I'm very happy with our opening six fixtures - as I'm sure Sam Allardyce is too. We have avoided the Premier League's top five clubs from last season and I hope this will help us pick up some early momentum in our fight to establish ourselves as a mid-table side. We have got three tricky games in October away at Spurs and Swansea and at home against Man City but November should see us make up any points dropped in October with home games against Aston Villa, Chelsea and Fulham as well as an away game against Norwich City. I also think we will cause a few upsets in December when we take on Man Utd and Arsenal so close to Christmas. My only concern for West Ham is if we need points at the latter part of the season to stay up as we face Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs and Man City in our last eight games.Sports Reporter Rob Warlow (Southampton): I am happy with our fixtures. In reality it doesn't matter who we play and when as we play everyone twice, but our start certainly looks a lot better on paper this year, having played Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton early on last season. Now if we can only buck the Southampton trend and start a season well, who knows, we could have a good season.Chief Reporter Oliver Frankham (Crystal Palace): Despite the euphoria of the play-off success remaining a fresh memory, it was almost a surprise to see the exalted company Palace will be keeping next season. But after the delight of discovering our curtain-raiser will be a home game against Spurs – absolutely no complaints – the worries set in. Look at that run-in: Man City and Liverpool in the last three games when we are almost certain to be fighting for our lives; a trip to Old Trafford in only our fourth match (how on earth can we possibly stop that Van Persie bloke scoring?); an early season visit to Liverpool where we once conceded nine... Just where are the points going to come from? But ultimately who cares? Relegation is assumed by all the experts, so we can't really lose. Unless we manage to achieve a worse haul than Derby County's 11 points in 2007-08, there will undoubtedly be moments to savour. I'm just going to try and enjoy the ride.News Reporter Chris Madden (Chelsea): Our season kicks off with a real mixed bag this year. Home to Hull is a comfortable start but the fun will begin with the trip to old Trafford on week two. Both clubs have new managers, but José is the only one with a proven record at the top in this country and Moyes' first home game in the hot seat in front of the Old Trafford faithful will be tough. Christmas will provide the usual problems – even a tired squad should win against Swansea and Southampton, but Liverpool and Arsenal (who will no doubt be battling hard for fourth by then) do not make it the easiest festive period so there is scope for Chelsea to wake up from the new year hangover and find themselves lagging behind. Liverpool away on April 26 is the last challenge of the season. So, expecting six points from Cardiff and Norwich at the close, if Chelsea are in the hunt at the death they can certainly win the whole thing. News Reporter Michael Davies (Manchester United): If David Moyes was hoping for an easy transition into his first year with Manchester United he'll be disappointed with the first few weeks of the new season. I can't imagine Swansea being the easiest game but should be a first win but then to get Mourinho's Chelsea as the first home game followed by Liverpool and then his first Manchester derby a few weeks later is more like a baptism by fire to borrow a cliché. But I think a big thing going his way is that Liverpool are considerably weaker than Utd while Chelsea and City will be getting used to their new managers as well. It also gets those games out of the way early and sets up an easier run in until November. Christmas doesn't look too bad with West Ham, Hull and Norwich not looking the toughest holiday schedule they've ever had. I would be surprised if they weren't top at the end.News Reporter Brian Haran (Millwall): After 30 years of supporting Millwall through thick and – plenty of – thin, I tend to approach a new season with a liberal smattering of pessimism. But we've avoided the "big boys" early on, such as Leicester and QPR, so that's no bad thing. At home to newly-promoted Yeovil on the opening day should hold no fears – but after 13 defeats there last season, Fortress New Den it certainly ain't. But with a new manager on board in Steve Lomas, the slate is wiped clean and a veneer of optimism returns. Lions fans with long memories will recall losing the self-same fixture about a decade ago, with the boys from Somerset winning with comparative ease. Ipswich away in the second game holds no fears – and gives the opportunity to get one over on former Millwall boss Mick McCarthy. The Christmas fixtures offer little Yuletide cheer. Away to Watford on Boxing Day is followed three days later by the long trip to Doncaster Rovers.
