Coventry v Ipswich, The Foxes v Derby, along with More EFL League Updates
Welcome to a packed evening of EFL and international soccer action. We'll be covering major Championship clashes plus the crucial last pool matches in the Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Preamble
Hello everyone. You are welcome to what is arguably the penultimate football live blog of the year. There’s a full Football League schedule, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, and we’ll also be keeping a close watch on the two night fixtures from the first group at the Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia and Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on the following matches, all 19:45 kick-offs except where noted.
Afcon 2025
- Comoros v The Eagles (7pm)
- Zambia versus The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Championship
- Coventry v The Tractor Boys (18:00)
- The Foxes v The Rams
- Middlesbrough v The Tigers
- Millwall versus The Robins
- The Red Dragons v North End
League One
- The Bluebirds v Boro
Recent Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The early game, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the second tier, promises to be an exciting match. These are the two XIs.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; the right-back, Woolfenden, Kitching, the left-back; the midfielder, the captain; Sakamoto, Rudoni, the forward; Wright.
Substitutes: The backup keeper, Allen, the forward, the defender, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; Furlong, O’Shea, Kipre, the left-back; the midfielder, the midfielder; the attacker, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: Palmer, the defender, the midfielder, the defender, the midfielder, Burns, the forward, the attacker, the striker.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: Group A Permutations
Look, it’s complicated. It always is when some but not all third-placed teams qualify. This is the current state ahead of tonight’s final set of games.
- Morocco 4 points, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2 points, 0 goal difference (goals scored 2)
- The Copper Bullets 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1pt, -2 goal difference
In short, Morocco are probably fine though they will aim to defeat their opponents to win the group. Zambia likely requires a draw or better versus the hosts. Comoros probably need to overcome Mali, who will probably be okay with a draw.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Angola v Egypt Latest
The final act of Group B at the Africa Cup of Nations is being covered. For those wishing to remain unaware, don’t click the link.
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 |
