The Sky Blues v The Tractor Boys, The Foxes against Derby, along with Additional Football Action Updates
Welcome for a busy evening of EFL as well as international football action. We'll be covering major Championship clashes plus the pivotal last pool matches in the Afcon tournament.
Preamble
Oh, hi folks. You are welcome to what is checks writing desk rota this penultimate soccer clockwatch of the year. There’s a full EFL schedule, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, and we will also monitor a close watch on the two night games from the first group at the Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia and Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on these fixtures, all 7.45pm start times unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths v The Eagles (19:00)
- Zambia versus The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Championship
- Coventry v Ipswich (6pm)
- The Foxes versus The Rams
- Boro versus The Tigers
- Millwall versus Bristol City
- The Red Dragons v Preston
Third Tier Fixture
- Cardiff v Boro
Recent Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The early game, between the teams who are first and third in the Championship, could be a thriller. Here are the two XIs.
Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, Grimes; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, the forward; the striker.
Subs: Wilson, the midfielder, Simms, the defender, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) Walton; the defender, O’Shea, the defender, Greaves; Matusiwa, Taylor; the attacker, the playmaker, the winger; Azon.
Substitutes: Palmer, Young, Johnson, the defender, Cajuste, the winger, McAteer, the attacker, Akpom.
The official Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Permutations
It's a tricky picture. That's often the case where only some third-place teams progress. Here’s how things look ahead of tonight’s last round of matches.
- The Atlas Lions 4pts, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
- Zambia 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 1)
- The Coelacanths 1 point, -2 goal difference
In short, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to beat their opponents and win the group. Zambia probably need a draw or better against Morocco. The island nation probably must to beat their rivals, who will probably be okay with a point.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Angola v Egypt Update
The denouement to Group B at this continental championship is being covered. To avoid spoilers, it's best not to seek out that information.
Second Tier 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 |