When Middlesbrough, Hartlepool United, Sunderland and Sheffield United will play their first-round Carabao Cup fixtures

Boro will travel to Bloomfield Road on the week commencing Monday, August 9, after the opening weekend of the Championship season.

Blackpool were promoted from League One via the play-offs in the 2020/21 season.

The draw also paired Hartlepool United with League One side Crewe Alexandra which will take place at Victoria Park.

Like last year’s competition, the first-round draw has been split into Northern and Southern sections.

Elsewhere in the Northern section, Sunderland will travel to Port Vale while Sheffield United who were relegated from the Premier League, will host Carlisle United.

Clubs are able to mutually agree on an alternative date between July 31 and August 4 for first-round games.

Boro’s game against Blackpool will come just days after their first Championship game of the campaign on Saturday, August 7 against Fulham.

Neil Warnock’s side will then face back-to-back home games against Bristol City and QPR.

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