The Sky Blues against The Tractor Boys, The Foxes v The Rams, and Additional EFL Action Updates
Greetings for the full evening of Football League as well as international football action. Our focus includes key Championship clashes plus those pivotal final group matches in this Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Preamble
Oh, hi folks. Welcome to the arguably this penultimate soccer clockwatch of the year. There’s a full EFL slate, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, while 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 as well as Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on these games, with 7.45pm kick-offs except where noted.
Afcon 2025
- Comoros v The Eagles (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets v Morocco (7pm)
Championship
- The Sky Blues v Ipswich (18:00)
- The Foxes versus Derby
- Boro v The Tigers
- The Lions v The Robins
- The Red Dragons versus North End
League One
- Cardiff v Boro
Recent Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The early game, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the second tier, could be a thriller. These are the starting elevens.
Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; van Ewijk, Woolfenden, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, Grimes; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Substitutes: Wilson, the midfielder, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, the youngster, the player.
Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; the defender, the centre-half, the defender, Greaves; the midfielder, the midfielder; the attacker, the playmaker, the winger; Azon.
Subs: The goalkeeper, Young, Johnson, the defender, the midfielder, the winger, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
The official Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: Group A Scenarios
The situation is complex. That's often the case when some but not all third-placed sides qualify. This is the current state ahead of this evening's last set of matches.
- Morocco 4pts, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- The Copper Bullets 2pts, GD0 (goals scored 1)
- Comoros 1pt, -2 goal difference
In short, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat Zambia and win their pool. Zambia likely requires a draw or better versus Morocco. Comoros likely must to overcome Mali, who should advance with a draw.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Angola v Egypt Update
The final act of Group B at this continental championship has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, avoid following that coverage.
Championship Standings 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 |
