The Sky Blues v Ipswich, Leicester against Derby, and Additional EFL League Previews
Greetings to a packed night of Football League and international soccer fixtures. We'll be covering important second-tier matches plus those crucial final pool matches in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Opening Notes
Greetings to all. Welcome to the checks writing desk rota the second-to-last soccer clockwatch of the year. We have a full Football League slate, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, while we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on the two evening games from the first group at this Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Mali facing Comoros.
We'll be focussing on the following fixtures, all 7.45pm start times except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros v The Eagles (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets v The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Championship
- Coventry versus The Tractor Boys (6pm)
- Leicester versus Derby
- Boro v Hull
- The Lions v The Robins
- Wrexham versus North End
Third Tier Fixture
- Cardiff versus Stevenage
Recent Lineup Updates
Coventry v Ipswich Team News
The early game, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the second tier, could be a thriller. Here are the two XIs.
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, Brau; Torp, Grimes; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Substitutes: Wilson, the midfielder, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, Eccles, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; the defender, the centre-half, the defender, the left-back; Matusiwa, Taylor; Walle, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: Palmer, the defender, Johnson, the defender, Cajuste, the winger, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Permutations
The situation is complex. It always is when some but not all third-placed teams qualify. Here’s how things look before tonight’s last set of matches.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
- Zambia 2pts, GD0 (goals scored 1)
- The Coelacanths 1 point, GD-2
To summarize, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat Zambia to win the group. Zambia probably need at least a point versus Morocco. Comoros likely must to overcome their rivals, who should advance with a draw.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Egypt's Match with Angola Latest
The final act of Group B at the Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. For those wishing to remain unaware, it's best not to seek out that information.
Championship 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 |
