Coventry versus The Tractor Boys, The Foxes against The Rams, along with Additional Football Action Updates
Greetings to the full night of Football League as well as continental football fixtures. Our focus includes major Championship encounters and those crucial final group matches in the Afcon competition.
Preamble
Hello everyone. Welcome to the reportedly this second-to-last football clockwatch of the year. We have a full EFL programme, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, while we’ll also be keeping a close watch on the two evening fixtures from the first group at this Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on the following games, all 19:45 start times except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- The Coelacanths v The Eagles (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets versus The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Second Division Matches
- The Sky Blues v Ipswich (18:00)
- The Foxes v Derby
- Middlesbrough versus Hull
- The Lions versus Bristol City
- The Red Dragons versus North End
Third Tier Fixture
- Cardiff v Stevenage
Recent Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the Championship, looks like a cracker. These are the two XIs.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, the captain; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Substitutes: Wilson, the midfielder, the forward, the defender, the full-back, the defender, the midfielder, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; Furlong, O’Shea, Kipre, the left-back; the midfielder, Taylor; the attacker, the playmaker, the winger; the centre-forward.
Subs: The goalkeeper, the defender, the midfielder, Humphreys, the midfielder, the winger, the forward, the attacker, Akpom.
Referee Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: Group A Scenarios
Look, it’s complicated. That's often the case when some but not all third-placed sides qualify. This is the current state ahead of this evening's final round of matches.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, GD+2
- The Eagles 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2 points, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1 point, -2 goal difference
To summarize, Morocco is likely safe but will want to beat their opponents and top their pool. Zambia likely requires at least a point versus Morocco. The island nation probably need to beat their rivals, who should advance if they get a draw.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Angola v Egypt Update
The conclusion to the second group at the continental championship is being covered. To avoid spoilers, avoid following that coverage.
Second Tier Table Snapshot
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coventry | 23 | 31 | 51 |
| 2 | Middlesbrough | 23 | 9 | 43 |
| 3 | Ipswich | 23 | 15 | 38 |
| 4 | Hull | 23 | 2 | 38 |
| 5 | Preston North End | 23 | 7 | 37 |
| 6 | Bristol City | 23 | 7 | 36 |
| 7 | Millwall | 23 | -6 | 36 |
| 8 | Watford | 23 | 4 | 35 |
| 9 | QPR | 23 | -2 | 35 |
| 10 | Stoke | 23 | 7 | 34 |
| 11 | Derby | 23 | 1 | 32 |
| 12 | Southampton | 23 | 4 | 31 |
| 13 | Wrexham | 23 | 2 | 31 |
| 14 | Leicester | 23 | -1 | 31 |
| 15 | Birmingham | 23 | 1 | 30 |
| 16 | West Brom | 23 | -5 | 28 |
| 17 | Charlton | 22 | -6 | 27 |
| 18 | Blackburn | 22 | -4 | 26 |
| 19 | Sheff Utd | 23 | -5 | 26 |
| 20 | Swansea | 23 | -7 | 26 |
| 21 | Oxford Utd | 23 | -8 | 22 |
| 22 | Portsmouth | 22 | -10 | 22 |
| 23 | Norwich | 23 | -9 | 21 |
| 24 | Sheff Wed | 22 | -27 | -8 |
