Boss Mick McCarthy says he laughed when he saw Town’s tough start to the season after the fixtures were released a couple of weeks ago.

Town face a trip to relegated Reading on the opening day of the season, August 3rd, and visit another of last season’s demoted Premier League clubs, QPR, later in the month.

McCarthy said: “When I heard the start, I just laughed at it and I thought somebody’s being kind to us - two of the teams that have come down.

“I can take two different views on that. If the teams that come down and are full of vigour and spirit, wanting to play in the Championship and show everybody they’re going to get promoted straight away, you could be in trouble.

“[Or they could] come down still suffering that hangover from being relegated with players not wanting to be there.

“You never know how it’s going to be. We’ll see. They are tough, Reading and QPR away, and, of course, Millwall and Leeds won’t be any pushovers either.”

McCarthy says he has sympathy for fans who face a couple of lengthy journeys at Christmas: “I looked and we’ve got [Doncaster and then] Bournemouth, we couldn’t get them any further apart, could we?

“That’s tough for the fans, it’s never bad for us. If we were going to Charlton we’d be staying overnight, so if we’re going to Doncaster and Bournemouth it makes no difference. But for the fans it does.”

Photo: Action Images

BlueMachines added 06:22 - Jul 1 Gets them out of the way. No one will be settled. Lets get amongst them, make their lives difficult and get a few points off them early :)
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ManningtreeBlue99 added 07:14 - Jul 1 We're not scared of anyone COYB
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sucrePB1 added 08:23 - Jul 1 something tickle your ballbag Mick?
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roytheboy added 08:29 - Jul 1 If only we can kick off well with a good start to the season it would be marvellous, I'm much more optimistic this time with Mick and Terry.
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essextractorboy93 added 12:09 - Jul 1 Mick is right about the Doncaster and Bournemouth away games. Why couldn't we have played any of the London teams? QPR, Millwall, Charlton, Watford or even Reading. Can't think of too many longer trips than Bournemouth and Doncaster, opposite ends of the country as well. Optimistic for the new season. In Mick we trust!
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Lennyboy added 18:25 - Jul 1 Does anyone know how they work out the fixtures and whether it can be fixed as I for one, do not trust the FA one little bit. We always have problems with the fixtures with respect to home and away venues and in this case; the strength of the first few teams we play. However, I believe the lads will overcome this tough start. COYB
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iTFC4LiFE99 added 23:00 - Jul 1 Mick thinking of the fans, his interviews are just class! Wouldn't hear Keane 'laugh' good god no, it's a win win these fixtures, we could get a few points or lose and play well and we aren't going to play better teams are we?
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RRanger added 12:09 - Jul 2 Lennyboy. The FA have nothing to do with the fixtures.
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