Image source, Getty Images

Blackburn Rovers struggled toward the end of the last season, only winning two of their last 10 games and narrowly missing out on the play-offs.

Manager Jon Dahl Tomasson's side have performed well in pre-season, despite losing top goalscorers Ben Brereton Diaz and Bradley Dack over the summer.

West Brom ended the last campaign in a similar boat to Blackburn, winning three of their last 10 and narrowly missing out on at least a shot at promotion.

Boss Carlos Corberan enters the new campaign with largely the same squad that he had in 2022-23 but with a couple of additions, including the exciting young winger Jeremy Sarmiento from Brighton - who has joined the Baggies on season-long-loan.

Expect a competitive game at Ewood Park.

Image source, Rex Features

Watford are another club starting 2023-24 with a new face in charge, with former Barnsley and West Brom boss Valerien Ismael appointed in May, after an uninspiring season saw them miss out on the play-offs and finish 11th.

Ismael – unperturbed by Watford’s management merry-go-round – has been ringing the changes this summer, with star players Joao Pedro and Ismaila Sarr also having left.

The history books also don’t look good for the Hornets, with them losing more games against QPR than any other side in their league history.

QPR might be many people’s favourites to get relegated this season, but boss Gareth Ainsworth is looking for stability after a “crazy” start earlier this year.

Middlesbrough will be looking to build on their incredible comeback campaign last season, where they went from relegation candidates to play-off semi-finalists under boss Michael Carrick.

Boro got to work early over the summer and added a number of reinforcements, including the highly rated Dutch defender Rav van den Berg and Aussie winger Sam Silvera.

But the big news out of Riverside is their top scorer from last season Chuba Akpom is still out with an injury.

The visitors Millwall unravelled like a badly packed kebab at the end of last season, losing to Blackburn on the last day to be denied a play-off spot.

Boss Gary Rowett has added quality in defender Joe Bryan, forward Kevin Nisbet and young Belgian Casper de Norre in the off-season.

Neither side had a great pre-season but that's where you get your mistakes out the way, right?

But it's worth noting Middlesbrough haven't lost to Millwall in their past seven matches at the Riverside.

Should be a good scrap though.

Image source, Rex Features

So then, how are you feeling before the first Saturday of the EFL season?

Confident this campaign is going to end with your team celebrating promotion or worried you might be exiting your division the wrong way in May?

Lets us know by using #bbcefl on social media, text 81111 (UK only - standard message rates apply) or WhatsApp on 03301231826.

We'd love to hear from you.

Image source, Rex Features

As is customary the EFL season started on Friday night.

Relegated Premier League side Southampton made the perfect start to the season with a narrow win at promoted Sheffield Wednesday.

Lee Gregory had cancelled out Adam Armstrong's opening goal for the dominant away side after the break before former Sheffield United striker Che Adams popped up with a late winner.

You can read the full report from that match right here.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport at Home Park

Image source, BBC Sport

After more than 13 years Plymouth Argyle are finally back in the Championship.

It's been a rollercoaster ride for the fans making their way to Home Park in the 4,843 days since the ground last hosted a second-tier game.

Having almost gone out of business soon after going down, and avoiding relegation to the National League on the final day of the 2012-13 season, the Pilgrims have trekked the long road back to where their fans think they belong.

There will be no doubt that this season will be tough - Argyle will in all likelihood have the lowest budget in the division and are still looking to strengthen, particularly up front.

But in manager Steven Schumacher they have one of the most highly regarded coaches in the second tier and a fanbase that will travel further than any other to back their heroes in numbers.

In Huddersfield, they face a side that only just avoided the drop last term, and have a manager in Neil Warnock who is feted in these parts - having guided Argyle to promotion in 1996.

The Terriers have been quiet in the summer transfer market and, with a few injuries as well, this could be a great time for Argyle to face their opponents.

Image source, Rex Features

• 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
• Stoke City v Rotherham United
• Swansea City v Birmingham City
• Watford v Queens Park Rangers

Image source, Rex Features

Hello and welcome to the first Saturday afternoon EFL live text of the season.

It might not seem like it outside (most places anyway) but the first weekend of August is upon us.

We've got eight Championship games and full cards in both League One and Two for you today.

It feels good to be back right now. How many fans will still be saying that come five o'clock this afternoon is a different matter of course...

Let's get straight into it.