Preston North End’s draft fixtures for the 2020/21 EFL Sky Bet Championship season have been released, starting with a home game at Deepdale.
The Lilywhites welcome Swansea City on the opening day of the new season on 12th September, Steve Cooper’s side having been defeated in the Play-Off semi-finals against Brentford, after grabbing sixth spot on the final day of the 2019/20 season.
Last season’s clash with the Swans at Deepdale saw Scott Sinclair score his first goal for the club against his former employers, before Liverpool loanee Rhian Brewster equalised for the visitors from South Wales.
The first away trip comes the following weekend, when Alex Neil’s side make the long trip to face his former club Norwich City at Carrow Road; it will be the Canaries' first home game since their relegation from the Premier League.
The first home game after the mooted return for supporters to stadia comes on Saturday 17th October, when Cardiff City are the visitors to PR1, Neil Harris’ side also losing semi-finalists in the 2019/20 Play-Offs, going out to eventual winners Fulham.
The derby games against Blackburn Rovers take place on Tuesday 24th November at Deepdale, with the reverse game at Ewood Park on Saturday 13th February 2021.
Christmas sees North End at Derby County on Boxing Day and then home games against Coventry City on 29th December and Nottingham Forest on Saturday 2nd January.
The Easter schedule has given the side a home game against Norwich City on Good Friday and then a long trip to South Wales, in a reverse to the opening day, with a clash against Swansea City on the afternoon of Easter Monday.
The campaign ends with a trip to play Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on the weekend of 8th May, preceded by the final home game, where we face Barnsley on Saturday 1st May.