The Sky Blues versus Ipswich, Leicester versus Derby, along with More EFL League Previews
Greetings for the packed evening of EFL and continental soccer fixtures. We'll be covering major second-tier encounters plus those pivotal last pool matches in the Afcon tournament.
Opening Notes
Oh, hi folks. You are welcome to the reportedly the penultimate football live blog of the year. There’s an extensive EFL programme, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, while we’ll also be keeping at least a third of an eye on both night fixtures from Group A at this Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia and Mali facing Comoros.
We'll be focussing on these fixtures, with 7.45pm start times except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- The Coelacanths versus The Eagles (7pm)
- Zambia versus The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Second Division Matches
- Coventry v The Tractor Boys (18:00)
- Leicester v Derby
- Boro v Hull
- Millwall versus Bristol City
- The Red Dragons versus Preston
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds v Boro
Latest Lineup Updates
Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, between the teams who are first and third in the Championship, promises to be a thriller. Here are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; van Ewijk, the centre-back, Kitching, the left-back; Torp, the captain; the winger, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Subs: Wilson, the midfielder, the forward, the defender, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, Perry, the player.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) Walton; the defender, the centre-half, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, the midfielder; the attacker, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Substitutes: Palmer, the defender, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, Burns, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
The official Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Scenarios
It's a tricky picture. That's often the case when some but not all third-place sides qualify. Here’s how things look ahead of this evening's last set of matches.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, GD+2
- Mali 2 points, 0 goal difference (goals scored 2)
- The Copper Bullets 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1 point, -2 goal difference
Briefly, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to beat Zambia and top the group. Zambia probably need at least a point versus the hosts. The island nation likely must to overcome Mali, who will probably be okay with a point.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The final act of Group B at the continental championship has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, don’t click the link.
Championship Table Overview
| 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 |
