CHERRIES manager Eddie Howe cast his eye over the Championship fixtures for the new season and then admitted: “We’ve got a tough start.”

Newly-promoted Cherries will kick off the campaign with a visit from familiar opening-day foes Charlton on Saturday, August 3 before heading to beaten Championship play-off finalists Watford a week later.

Howe’s men will then host relegated Wigan at Dean Court on August 17 before travelling to Huddersfield – their conquerors in the League One play-off semi-final in 2011 – on August 24.

“Our start is going to be really important to us,” said Howe, in an interview with the Daily Echo. “We have been given four really tough fixtures in August, coupled with the League Cup tie against Portsmouth.

“It is great to kick off with a home game and we have got to be looking to hit the ground running and try to continue the momentum from last season. Had things been different, both Watford and Wigan could have been in the Premier League next season so they are going to be formidable opponents.

“The Championship is an unforgiving division and we will need to be at our best in every game. It is a great division but a very competitive one as well. It is a really big step for us but, hopefully, one we will be able to bridge.”

Howe will return to his former club Burnley on Saturday, November 9, while Cherries will host fellow promoted outfit Yeovil at Dean Court on Boxing Day.

Cherries’ ex-Brighton duo Tommy Elphick and Steve Cook will have to wait until New Year’s Day to return to the Amex, with the home game against the Seagulls on Saturday, November 30.

The festive period has been fairly kind to Cherries with Ipswich set to visit Dean Court on Sunday, December 29.

Cherries will travel to Portman Road for the return fixture on Easter Monday, just two days after hosting Sheffield Wednesday.

Harry Redknapp’s QPR will head to Dorset on April 5, while Cherries will complete their first season in the second tier since 1990 with a trip to Millwall.

Derby’s Pride Park, one of five new grounds for Cherries supporters to visit, will play host to Howe’s team on February 22 – the first league meeting between the clubs since 1986.

Cherries will also meet Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Leicester and Ipswich in the league for the first time since 1990. The four other new venues are Bolton, Brighton, Leicester and Middlesbrough.

Cherries’ full Championship fixture list 2013-14

03/08/2013 15:00 Cherries v Charlton Athletic

10/08/2013 15:00 Watford v Cherries

17/08/2013 15:00 Cherries v Wigan Athletic

24/08/2013 15:00 Huddersfield Town v Cherries

31/08/2013 15:00 Doncaster Rovers v Cherries

14/09/2013 15:00 Cherries v Blackpool

17/09/2013 19:45 Cherries v Barnsley

21/09/2013 15:00 Middlesbrough v Cherries

28/09/2013 15:00 Cherries v Blackburn Rovers

01/10/2013 19:45 Leeds United v Cherries

05/10/2013 15:00 Cherries v Millwall

19/10/2013 15:00 Nottingham Forest v Cherries

26/10/2013 15:00 Leicester City v Cherries

02/11/2013 15:00 Cherries v Bolton Wanderers

09/11/2013 15:00 Burnley v Cherries

23/11/2013 15:00 Cherries v Derby County

30/11/2013 15:00 Cherries v Brighton

03/12/2013 19:45 Queens Park Rangers v Cherries

07/12/2013 15:00 Reading v Cherries

14/12/2013 15:00 Cherries v Birmingham City

21/12/2013 15:00 Sheffield Wednesday v Cherries

26/12/2013 15:00 Cherries v Yeovil Town

29/12/2013 15:00 Cherries v Ipswich Town

01/01/2014 15:00 Brighton v Cherries

11/01/2014 15:00 Wigan Athletic v Cherries

18/01/2014 15:00 Cherries v Watford

25/01/2014 15:00 Charlton Athletic v Cherries

28/01/2014 19:45 Cherries v Huddersfield Town

01/02/2014 15:00 Cherries v Leicester City

08/02/2014 15:00 Bolton Wanderers v Cherries

15/02/2014 15:00 Cherries v Burnley

22/02/2014 15:00 Derby County v Cherries

01/03/2014 15:00 Cherries v Doncaster Rovers

08/03/2014 15:00 Blackpool v Cherries

11/03/2014 19:45 Blackburn Rovers v Cherries

15/03/2014 15:00 Cherries v Middlesbrough

22/03/2014 15:00 Barnsley v Cherries

25/03/2014 19:45 Cherries v Leeds United

29/03/2014 15:00 Birmingham City v Cherries

05/04/2014 15:00 Cherries v Queens Park Rangers

08/04/2014 19:45 Cherries v Reading

12/04/2014 15:00 Yeovil Town v Cherries

19/04/2014 15:00 Cherries v Sheffield Wednesday

21/04/2014 15:00 Ipswich Town v Cherries

26/04/2014 15:00 Cherries v Nottingham Forest

03/05/2014 15:00 Millwall v Cherries