Gone east

I'm away from my desk for the next few days in beautiful Budapest, but having just landed, checked out the first day fixtures for the teams on my patch.

Bristol City start at home to Ipswich and then have two tough fixtures on the road to local(ish) rivals Cardiff and Sven's Leicester respectively.

Cardiff visit the relegated Hammers before entertaining City and then Gus Poyet's League One champions, Brighton.

Reading start at home against those lovely people from Millwall and then have two away games against Leicester and Pompey.

The newly promoted Chairboys start with a home fixture against relegated Scunny in League one followed by two away trips to Colchester and Orient.

It seems that League Two sadly contains many of the clubs I've written about during the last seventeen years.

Bristol Rovers will visit AFC Wimbledon for their first game in the league proper (although some people might argue that point!) and then entertain new manager Paul Buckle's former club Torquay - where he is sure of a warm reception from the away fans who have probably forgiven him for walking out on them last month. The Gas then entertain Northampton whose manager - former Bristol City boss Gary Johnson - will also be greeted with flowers and chocolates at the Mem.

Cheltenham have a tough first game against Gillingham who will be chasing promotion this year and then welcome Swindon and new chief Paolo di Canio to Whaddon Road before taking on Morecambe at home in their first evening fixture.

Hereford are probably relieved that their first fixture - away at Southend - isn't to be played midweek. They then also play Morecambe and Macclesfield at home - two winnable games?

Oxford's opening three games look tough ones. Rotherham away and then Bradford and Shrewsbury at home.

Finally, Swindon sandwich their trip to Cheltenham with a home game against Crewe and an away game against relegated Daggers. It will be interesting to see how (or if) di Canio matches Still and Gradi for nouse.

I'll try to post daily waffle next week while I'm away, but do bear in mind that a) Hungarian beer is nice and b) you haven't sent me the money for your subscription!!

Good weekend everyone.