YOU would not have blamed Blackburn Rovers fans for experiencing déjà vu after discovering who their side’s 2015-16 opening day opponents were.

When Rovers welcome Wolves on August 8 it will mark the third time the Football League founder members have clashed on the opening day of a campaign at Ewood Park in the last 12 years.

The most recent curtain-raiser between the teams is one which Rovers supporters will want to forget.

A 2-1 defeat on August 13, 2011, with goals from Stephen Ward and Stephen Fletcher cancelling out a debut strike from Mauro Formica, set the ball rolling on a disastrous season which would end with their club being relegated from the Premier League.

But rewind a further eight years, to August 16, 2003, and they will have happier memories.

On that day Graeme Souness’ side swept aside Wolves 5-1 with a scintillating show of free-flowing football.

Lorenzo Amoroso opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a thumping header from a pinpoint corner from fellow debutant Brett Emerton and one became two 12 minutes later via a delicious right-foot volley from David Thompson.

The majestic Emerton extended the advantage in the 52nd minute with a scorching right-foot finish and, while promoted Wolves reduced the deficit 19 minutes from time through Steffen Iverson, Andy Cole stepped off the bench to bag a brilliantly taken, Tugay-assisted quickfire late double.

Afterwards Rovers boss Souness said “It was a very good start for us.

“But I’m not getting carried away because we were playing a side who had just come up from the First Division and it’s going to take them time to adjust.

“As for our performance, I thought we were excellent for 35 minutes in the first half but then we maybe took our foot off the gas for 10 minutes before half-time.

“However, we then scored a third goal early in the second half which settled us down again and I thought we looked really good going forward.”

Souness’ caution proved justified as Rovers went on to endure a season of struggle which could have resulted in relegation had it not be for unlikely hero Jon Stead.