SOUTHEND United boss Phil Brown believes a home fixture with Blackburn Rovers is a ‘brilliant game’ to start their 2017/18 League One campaign.

The Blues will host Rovers at Roots Hall on the August 5 opener after the fixtures were released this morning.

Rovers dropped in to League One after relegation from the Championship last term and will be playing in the third tier for the first time since the 1979/80 season.

Tony Mowbray’s side go in to the season as favourites to lift the title come May 5, but Southend too will be eyeing another promotion push.

They missed out on the play-offs by just a solitary point last season, improving on their 2014/15 finish by seven places.

And despite there still being 45 days until the opening game of the new season, Brown is excited by the prospect of facing Rovers.

“I think it's a brilliant game to start the season with and I’m excited about it already if I’m honest,” Brown told the Essex Echo.

“It doesn’t seem that long ago that Blackburn Rovers won the Premier League title and they are still a big club.

“They’ve fallen on hard times recently and find themselves in League One but they will be looking to get promotion next season so this is going to be a real test.

“I’m sure they will be bringing a big away following and there will be a really good atmosphere.”