The Sky Blues versus The Tractor Boys, Leicester v The Rams, along with More Football Action Previews
Greetings to the full night of Football League and continental soccer action. The spotlight falls on key Championship encounters plus the crucial last pool matches in this Afcon tournament.
Introduction
Oh, hi folks. Welcome to the checks writing desk rota the second-to-last soccer live blog of the year. We have an extensive EFL programme, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, while we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on the two night games from Group A at the Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Comoros v Mali.
Our primary attention will be on the following games, all 19:45 start times unless stated.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- The Coelacanths versus Mali (7pm)
- Zambia v The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Championship
- Coventry versus The Tractor Boys (6pm)
- The Foxes v The Rams
- Boro v The Tigers
- Millwall versus The Robins
- The Red Dragons v Preston
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds versus Stevenage
Recent Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, between the teams who are first and third in the second tier, looks like a thriller. Here are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; van Ewijk, Woolfenden, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, the captain; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Substitutes: Wilson, the midfielder, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, the defender, the midfielder, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; Furlong, O’Shea, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, the midfielder; Walle, the playmaker, the winger; Azon.
Subs: Palmer, the defender, the midfielder, Humphreys, Cajuste, the winger, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
The official Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Scenarios
It's a tricky picture. That's often the case where only some third-place teams progress. This is the current state ahead of this evening's final set of games.
- Morocco 4pts, GD+2
- The Eagles 2 points, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
- The Copper Bullets 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1 point, -2 goal difference
To summarize, Morocco are probably fine but will want to beat Zambia to win the group. Zambia probably need a draw or better against the hosts. The island nation likely must to beat Mali, who should advance with a draw.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The denouement of Group B at this continental championship is being covered. If you don’t want to know the score, avoid following that coverage.
Second Tier 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 |