The 2026/27 Championship fixtures are finally here, and Southampton fans now know the road back to the Premier League. In this Instant Reaction, Adam takes a first look at the fixture list, including the opening day trip to Watford.

He follows it up with the mouth-watering south coast derby clashes with Portsmouth, the key festive fixtures, and the final day showdown with Sheffield United.

Which matches stand out? Have the Saints been handed a kind start, or is there a tough run of games on the horizon? Join me as I give my immediate thoughts on the schedule and what it could mean for Tonda Eckert’s side this season.

⚽ Opening day at Watford
⚽ Portsmouth home and away
⚽ Festive fixtures analysed
⚽ Toughest runs of games
⚽ First impressions of the full fixture list

Let me know your thoughts in the comments:
🔴 Which fixture are you most looking forward to?
⚪ Where do you think Saints will finish this season?

All Photos Via Reuters