Coventry versus Ipswich, The Foxes v Derby, along with More EFL League Updates
Hello for a packed night of Football League as well as international football fixtures. We'll be covering major Championship clashes plus the pivotal final pool games in this Afcon tournament.
Preamble
Hello everyone. You are welcome to the checks writing desk rota the second-to-last football live blog of the year. There’s an extensive EFL slate, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, while we’ll also be keeping at least a third of an eye on both night fixtures from the first group 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 start times unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- Comoros versus Mali (19:00)
- Zambia v Morocco (7pm)
Second Division Matches
- Coventry v Ipswich (6pm)
- Leicester v Derby
- Boro v The Tigers
- Millwall versus Bristol City
- Wrexham versus North End
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds v Boro
Recent Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the second tier, promises to be an exciting match. These are the starting elevens.
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, the left-back; Torp, the captain; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, the forward; the striker.
Substitutes: The backup keeper, Allen, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, the midfielder, the youngster, the player.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; the defender, O’Shea, Kipre, the left-back; the midfielder, the midfielder; the attacker, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Subs: The goalkeeper, Young, Johnson, the defender, the midfielder, the winger, McAteer, the attacker, Akpom.
The official Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: Group A Scenarios
Look, it’s complicated. It always is where only some third-place teams qualify. Here’s how things look ahead of tonight’s final set of games.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
- Zambia 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1pt, GD-2
To summarize, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat Zambia and win the group. Zambia probably need at least a point against the hosts. Comoros probably need to overcome Mali, who will probably be okay if they get a draw.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The denouement to Group B at the continental championship has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, it's best not to seek out that information.
Second Tier 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 |
