IPSWICH Town will start the new season with an eye-catching run of fixtures.

The Blues kick-off with a home match against Fulham - relegated from the Barclays Premier League last season - on Saturday, August 9.

And the match has already been chosen for live coverage by Sky TV, meaning a 5.15pm kick-off.

Following their Capital One Cup tie at Crawley, which is likely to be on the Tuesday of that week, Town’s first away game is at Reading, prior to a midweek appointment at Birmingham.

The first Portman Road derby against Norwich City since April 2011 is currently scheduled for Saturday, August 23 - the Bank Holiday weekend.

However, there is every chance the eagerly-awaited contest could be put back to the following lunchtime, as has been the case in recent years.

Ipswich’s tough first month concludes with a visit to play-off finalists Derby County on August 30.

The second derby of the season at Carrow Road is currently scheduled to be played on Saturday, February 28 but also seems likely to move to the Sunday.

In terms of festive fixtures, Town begin the run-up to Christmas with a home match against Middlesbrough on December 20.

They then visit recently-promoted Brentford on Boxing Day, while Charlton make the short trip to Portman Road on December 28.

There are no games on New Year’s Day as FA Cup third-round ties are scheduled for the weekend of January 3.

Easter sees AFC Bournemouth visit Portman Road on April 4, with the Blues making the trip to Huddersfield on Easter Monday.

Town’s run-in sees Blackpool and Cardiff at Portman Road on April 11 and 14 respectively, before a visit to boss Mick McCarthy’s old club, Wolves, on April 18.

The Blues conclude with a home match against Nottingham Forest, before a final-day trip to face Blackburn Rovers.

Town fans will have noticed some awkward midweek fixtures, with distant trips to Sheffield Wednesday on September 30, Cardiff City on October 21 and Leeds United on March 3.

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES 2014-15 AUGUST Sat 9: (3pm) Ipswich Town v Fulham Sat 16: (3pm) Reading v Ipswich Town Tues 19: (7.45pm) Birmingham City v Ipswich Town Sat 23: (3pm) Ipswich Town v Norwich City Sat 30: (3pm) Derby County v Ipswich Town SEPTEMBER Sept 13: (3pm) Ipswich Town v Millwall Tues 16: (7.45pm) Ipswich Town v Brighton Sat 20: (3pm) Wigan Athletic v Ipswich Town Sat 27: (3pm) Ipswich Town v Rotherham United Tues 30: (7.45pm) Sheffield Wednesday v Ipswich Town OCTOBER Sat 4: (3pm) Nottingham Forest v Ipswich Town Sat 18: (3pm) Ipswich Town v Blackburn Rovers Tues 21: (7.45pm) Cardiff City v Ipswich Town Sat 25: (3pm) Ipswich Town v Huddersfield Town NOVEMBER Sat 1: (3pm) Blackpool v Ipswich Town Tues 4: (7.45pm) Ipswich Town v Wolverhampton Sat 8: (3pm) Ipswich Town v Watford Sat 22: (3pm) A.F.C. Bournemouth v Ipswich Town Sat 29: (3pm) Charlton Athletic v Ipswich Town DECEMBER Sat 6: (3pm) Ipswich Town v Leeds United Sat 13: (3pm) Bolton Wanderers v Ipswich Town Sat 20: (3pm) Ipswich Town v Middlesbrough Fri 26: (3pm) Brentford v Ipswich Town Sun 28: (3pm) Ipswich Town v Charlton Athletic JANUARY Sat 10: (3pm) Ipswich Town v Derby County Sat 17: (3pm) Millwall v Ipswich Town Sat 24: (3pm) Brighton v Ipswich Town Sat 31: (3pm) Ipswich Town v Wigan Athletic FEBRUARY Sat 7: (3pm) Rotherham United v Ipswich Town Tues 10: (7.45pm) Ipswich Town v Sheffield Wednesday Sat 14: (3pm) Fulham v Ipswich Town Sat 21: (3pm) Ipswich Town v Reading Tues 24: (7.45pm) Ipswich Town v Birmingham City Sat 28: (3pm) Norwich City v Ipswich Town MARCH Tues 3: (7.45pm) Leeds United v Ipswich Town Sat 7: (3pm) Ipswich Town v Brentford Sat 14: (3pm) Middlesbrough v Ipswich Town Tues 17: (7.45pm) Ipswich Town v Bolton Wanderers Sat 21: (3pm) Watford v Ipswich Town APRIL Sat 4: (3pm) Ipswich Town v A.F.C. Bournemouth Mon 6: (3pm) Huddersfield Town v Ipswich Town Sat 11: (3pm) Ipswich Town v Blackpool Tues 14: (7.45pm) Ipswich Town v Cardiff City Sat 18: (3pm) Wolverhampton v Ipswich Town Sat 25: (3pm) Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest MAY Sat 2: (3pm) Blackburn Rovers v Ipswich Town