Coventry versus Ipswich, The Foxes versus The Rams, and Additional Football Action Updates
Welcome for the full evening of Football League as well as continental football fixtures. The spotlight falls on key Championship encounters plus those crucial last pool games in this Afcon tournament.
Opening Notes
Oh, hi folks. You are welcome to what is reportedly the penultimate soccer clockwatch of the year. There’s an extensive Football League programme, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, and we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on both evening games from Group A at the Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on these matches, all 19:45 kick-offs except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros v Mali (19:00)
- The Copper Bullets v Morocco (19:00)
Second Division Matches
- The Sky Blues v Ipswich (18:00)
- Leicester versus Derby
- Boro v Hull
- Millwall v The Robins
- The Red Dragons versus North End
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds v Stevenage
Recent Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The early game, between the teams who are first and third in the Championship, promises to be a thriller. These are the two XIs.
Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; van Ewijk, Woolfenden, Kitching, Brau; Torp, Grimes; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Subs: Wilson, Allen, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, Perry, the player.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; Furlong, the centre-half, Kipre, Greaves; Matusiwa, Taylor; the attacker, the playmaker, the winger; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: Palmer, Young, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, the winger, the forward, the attacker, Akpom.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Scenarios
Look, it’s complicated. That's often the case where only some third-place sides qualify. Here’s how things look before tonight’s last round of matches.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, GD+2
- Mali 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- The Copper Bullets 2 points, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1pt, -2 goal difference
In short, Morocco is likely safe but will want to defeat their opponents to win their pool. Zambia probably need a draw or better against Morocco. The island nation probably need to beat their rivals, who will probably be okay with a draw.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Egypt's Match with Angola Latest
The final act to the second group at this continental championship has coverage elsewhere. 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 |