MIDDLESBROUGH will begin life in the Championship with a home match against Sheffield United.

Gareth Southgate's side will kick off life in the second tier on August 8 against a Blades side that narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League when they lost the play-off final against Burnley.

Boro will then head out on the road, travelling to Swansea City on August 15 and facing Scunthorpe at Glanford Park on August 18.

Their remaining two matches of the opening month are at home to Doncaster and away at Bristol City.

September's highlight is likely to be the visit of a Roy Keane-led Ipswich on the 12th, while the Tyne-Tees derby with Newcastle will take place at St James' Park on December 19.

Boro entertain Scunthorpe on Boxing Day, with the club's final match of 2009 taking them to Barnsley on December 28.

2010's league programme starts with a home game against Swansea on January 9, with Newcastle due to visit the Riverside for the second derby match on March 13.

Boro's final home game is against Coventry on April 24, and the season will end with an away match at Leicester on May 2.

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