Falkirk and Hibs to meet on Championship's opening weekend

Promotion candidates Falkirk and Hibs will meet on the opening weekend of the Championship season after the SPFL released the fixture list for the 2016/17 Scottish football campaign.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Jun 2016, 09:02 BST
Updated 25th Aug 2016, 17:59 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

Falkirk defeated Hibs in the Scottish Premiership play-offs last season. Picture: Michael GillenFalkirk defeated Hibs in the Scottish Premiership play-offs last season. Picture: Michael Gillen
Falkirk defeated Hibs in the Scottish Premiership play-offs last season. Picture: Michael Gillen

The two sides built up quite a rivalry last season as they battled for promotion to the top flight. Falkirk didn’t manage to defeat Hibs across the four regular season encounters but bested them over two legs in the play-offs. The SPFL have recognised the rivalry and chosen the pair to square off again in the New Years’ derbies on 31 December.

Dundee United will begin life in the Championship with a home game against Queen of the South. They’ll play Hibs - the side that knocked them out of both cup competitions last term - at Easter Road on 1 October.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The opening weekend also throws up a rather tasty derby clash between rivals St Mirren and Morton at the Paisley 2021 Stadium.

Dunfermline Athletic’s first game back in the second tier following three seasons in League One will come against Dumbarton at East End Park. The Pars will then have the unenviable task of travelling to Easter Road the following week.

Raith Rovers’s trip to newly promoted Ayr United rounds out the opening weekend.

Opening weekend fixtures

Dundee United v Queen of the South

Ayr United v Raith Rovers

St Mirren v Greenock Morton

Dunfermline Athletic v Dumbarton

Falkirk v Hibernian

The Scotsman’s EU Referendum page: Keep up to date with latest news, polls and features.

DOWNLOAD THE SCOTSMAN APP ON ITUNES OR GOOGLE PLAY

Related topics:FalkirkHibsDundee UnitedSPFLSt MirrenDunfermline AthleticQueen of the South