Coventry against The Tractor Boys, The Foxes against Derby, and Additional Football League Updates
Welcome to the busy night of Football League and international football fixtures. The spotlight falls on major second-tier encounters plus those crucial last pool matches in the Afcon competition.
Introduction
Greetings to all. Welcome to the arguably the penultimate soccer clockwatch of the year. There’s an extensive EFL programme, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, and we’ll also be keeping a close watch on both night games from Group A at the Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Mali facing Comoros.
We'll be focussing on these games, with 7.45pm kick-offs unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- Comoros versus The Eagles (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets versus The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Second Division Matches
- Coventry v Ipswich (18:00)
- Leicester versus Derby
- Boro versus Hull
- The Lions v The Robins
- Wrexham versus North End
League One
- Cardiff v Stevenage
Recent Team News
Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, between the teams who are first and third in the Championship, could be a thriller. These are the starting elevens.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, Brau; Torp, Grimes; the winger, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Subs: Wilson, the midfielder, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, the youngster, the player.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; the defender, the centre-half, Kipre, the left-back; Matusiwa, Taylor; the attacker, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Substitutes: Palmer, the defender, the midfielder, the defender, the midfielder, Burns, McAteer, the attacker, the striker.
The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Scenarios
Look, it’s complicated. That's often the case where only some third-placed sides qualify. This is the current state ahead of this evening's last set of matches.
- Morocco 4 points, GD+2
- The Eagles 2 points, 0 goal difference (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2pts, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1pt, -2 goal difference
Briefly, Morocco are probably fine though they will aim to defeat Zambia and win their pool. Zambia likely requires at least a point versus Morocco. Comoros probably must to overcome their rivals, who will probably be okay if they get a point.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The denouement to the second group at this continental championship is being covered. To avoid spoilers, avoid following that coverage.
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 |
