The Sky Blues against The Tractor Boys, Leicester against Derby, and More EFL League Previews
Welcome to a busy evening of Football League as well as international football fixtures. Our focus includes key Championship matches plus those crucial final group games in this Afcon competition.
Opening Notes
Greetings to all. Welcome to the reportedly the second-to-last football live blog of the year. We have an extensive Football League slate, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, while we will also monitor a close watch on the two night games from the first group at the Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Mali facing Comoros.
Our primary attention will be on these matches, with 7.45pm kick-offs unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- Comoros versus The Eagles (19:00)
- Zambia versus Morocco (19:00)
Second Division Matches
- The Sky Blues versus Ipswich (6pm)
- Leicester versus Derby
- Boro v Hull
- The Lions v Bristol City
- Wrexham v Preston
League One
- Cardiff versus Stevenage
Latest Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the second tier, promises to be a thriller. These are the starting elevens.
Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; the right-back, the centre-back, Kitching, Brau; the midfielder, the captain; the winger, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Subs: The backup keeper, the midfielder, the forward, the defender, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; Furlong, O’Shea, Kipre, the left-back; Matusiwa, Taylor; the attacker, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Subs: Palmer, the defender, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, Burns, McAteer, the attacker, the striker.
Referee Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: Group A Permutations
The situation is complex. It always is where only some third-placed sides qualify. Here’s how things look ahead of this evening's final set of matches.
- Morocco 4 points, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2pts, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
- Zambia 2pts, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1pt, -2 goal difference
In short, Morocco is likely safe but will want to defeat their opponents and win their pool. Zambia probably need a draw or better against Morocco. Comoros probably need to overcome Mali, who should advance if they get a point.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Angola v Egypt Update
The final act of Group B at the Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, don’t click the link.
Championship Standings 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 |
