Coventry versus Ipswich, The Foxes against Derby, along with Additional Football Action Updates
Greetings to the busy evening of EFL as well as continental football fixtures. We'll be covering important Championship encounters and those pivotal final pool matches in the Afcon tournament.
Opening Notes
Greetings to all. Welcome to the reportedly the second-to-last football live blog of the year. We have a full EFL slate, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, and we will also monitor a close watch on the two night fixtures from the first group at this Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Mali facing Comoros.
Our primary attention will be on the following games, with 19:45 kick-offs except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- The Coelacanths v The Eagles (19:00)
- The Copper Bullets versus Morocco (7pm)
Second Division Matches
- Coventry v The Tractor Boys (6pm)
- The Foxes v Derby
- Boro v Hull
- Millwall v Bristol City
- Wrexham versus North End
Third Tier Fixture
- Cardiff versus Stevenage
Latest Lineup Updates
Coventry v Ipswich Team News
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the second tier, could be a thriller. These are the starting elevens.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, Brau; Torp, Grimes; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Subs: Wilson, the midfielder, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, the youngster, the player.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; Furlong, the centre-half, the defender, the left-back; Matusiwa, the midfielder; Walle, Nunez, the winger; the centre-forward.
Subs: Palmer, Young, the midfielder, the defender, the midfielder, the winger, the forward, the attacker, the striker.
Referee Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: Group A Permutations
The situation is complex. That's often the case where only some third-placed sides progress. Here’s how things look before this evening's final set of games.
- The Atlas Lions 4pts, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2 points, 0 goal difference (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1pt, GD-2
In short, Morocco are probably fine but will want to beat Zambia and top the group. Zambia probably need a draw or better against Morocco. The island nation likely need to overcome Mali, who will probably be okay if they get a point.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The final act of the second group at this Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, it's best not to seek out that information.
Championship 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 |
