Coventry versus The Tractor Boys, The Foxes versus Derby, along with Additional Football Action Previews
Hello for the busy evening of EFL and continental football action. We'll be covering major second-tier encounters plus the crucial last group games in the Afcon tournament.
Preamble
Hello everyone. Welcome to the reportedly this penultimate football clockwatch of the year. There’s an extensive EFL programme, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, and we will also monitor a close watch on the two night fixtures from Group A at the Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia and Comoros v Mali.
Our primary attention will be on these games, all 19:45 start times unless stated.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- The Coelacanths v Mali (19:00)
- Zambia versus The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Second Division Matches
- Coventry versus The Tractor Boys (6pm)
- Leicester versus Derby
- Boro v Hull
- Millwall v Bristol City
- The Red Dragons v Preston
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds versus Stevenage
Recent Lineup Updates
Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, between the teams who are top and third in the second tier, looks like a cracker. Here are the starting elevens.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, the centre-back, Kitching, Brau; the midfielder, the captain; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, the forward; Wright.
Subs: The backup keeper, the midfielder, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, Eccles, Perry, the player.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) Walton; the defender, O’Shea, the defender, the left-back; Matusiwa, the midfielder; Walle, Nunez, the winger; the centre-forward.
Subs: The goalkeeper, the defender, Johnson, Humphreys, Cajuste, Burns, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: Group A Scenarios
Look, it’s complicated. It always is where only some third-placed teams qualify. Here’s how things look before this evening's final set of games.
- Morocco 4 points, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2 points, 0 goal difference (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1 point, GD-2
In short, Morocco are probably fine though they will aim to defeat Zambia and top their pool. Zambia probably need at least a point against the hosts. Comoros probably need to beat their rivals, who will probably be okay with a draw.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Egypt's Match with Angola Latest
The conclusion of the second group at the continental championship has coverage elsewhere. For those wishing to remain unaware, don’t click the link.
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 |
