The Sky Blues versus The Tractor Boys, The Foxes v The Rams, along with Additional Football Action Previews
Greetings to the busy night of Football League and continental football action. We'll be covering important second-tier encounters and the pivotal final group games in the Afcon tournament.
Introduction
Hello everyone. Welcome to the reportedly the second-to-last football clockwatch of the year. There’s an extensive Football League schedule, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, while we will also monitor a close watch on the two night fixtures from Group A at the Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Comoros v Mali.
Our primary attention will be on the following fixtures, with 7.45pm kick-offs except where noted.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths versus Mali (19:00)
- Zambia versus The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Championship
- The Sky Blues versus The Tractor Boys (6pm)
- The Foxes v Derby
- Middlesbrough versus The Tigers
- Millwall versus The Robins
- The Red Dragons versus Preston
Third Tier Fixture
- Cardiff v Boro
Recent Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The early game, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the second tier, looks like a cracker. Here are the two XIs.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, the centre-back, Kitching, Brau; Torp, the captain; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Substitutes: The backup keeper, the midfielder, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, the midfielder, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) Walton; Furlong, the centre-half, Kipre, Greaves; the midfielder, the midfielder; the attacker, the playmaker, the winger; Azon.
Substitutes: Palmer, the defender, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, Burns, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Scenarios
It's a tricky picture. It always is when some but not all third-place teams qualify. Here’s how things look before this evening's last set of games.
- Morocco 4pts, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2pts, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1pt, -2 goal difference
Briefly, Morocco is likely safe but will want to beat Zambia and top the group. Zambia probably need at least a point versus the hosts. Comoros probably need to beat Mali, who should advance with a point.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The denouement of Group B at the continental championship is being covered. If you don’t want to know the score, avoid following that coverage.
Second Tier 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 |
