Coventry versus Ipswich, Leicester versus Derby, and More EFL League Previews
Greetings to a full evening of Football League as well as continental soccer action. Our focus includes key Championship encounters and those crucial last pool games in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Introduction
Hello everyone. You are welcome to what is checks writing desk rota the penultimate soccer clockwatch of the year. There’s an extensive Football League programme, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, while we will also monitor a close watch on both night fixtures from Group A at this Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Mali facing Comoros.
Our primary attention will be on the following matches, with 19:45 kick-offs except where noted.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths versus The Eagles (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets v The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Second Division Matches
- The Sky Blues v Ipswich (6pm)
- Leicester v Derby
- Boro versus The Tigers
- The Lions versus The Robins
- The Red Dragons versus Preston
League One
- The Bluebirds v Stevenage
Latest Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the second tier, could be an exciting match. Here are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; van Ewijk, the centre-back, Kitching, the left-back; the midfielder, Grimes; the winger, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Subs: Wilson, the midfielder, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, Perry, the player.
Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; the defender, the centre-half, the defender, Greaves; Matusiwa, Taylor; the attacker, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Subs: Palmer, Young, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, Burns, McAteer, the attacker, Akpom.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Scenarios
It's a tricky picture. That's often the case when some but not all third-placed teams qualify. Here’s how things look ahead of this evening's final set of games.
- Morocco 4 points, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2pts, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
- The Copper Bullets 2pts, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1 point, GD-2
In short, Morocco are probably fine though they will aim to beat Zambia and top their pool. Zambia probably need at least a point versus Morocco. Comoros likely need to overcome their rivals, who should advance if they get a draw.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Egypt's Match with Angola Latest
The final act of the second group at this continental championship has coverage elsewhere. If you don’t want to know the score, 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 |