Coventry against The Tractor Boys, The Foxes versus Derby, and Additional EFL League Previews
Welcome to a busy night of Football League as well as continental football fixtures. Our focus includes major second-tier encounters and the pivotal final pool games in this Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Preamble
Oh, hi folks. You are welcome to what is arguably the penultimate soccer live blog of 2025. We have an extensive Football League schedule, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, while we’ll also be keeping at least a third of an eye on the two evening games from Group A at the Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on the following matches, all 19:45 start times unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths v Mali (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets versus The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Second Division Matches
- The Sky Blues v Ipswich (18:00)
- The Foxes v The Rams
- Boro v Hull
- The Lions v Bristol City
- Wrexham v Preston
League One
- The Bluebirds versus Stevenage
Latest Lineup Updates
Coventry v Ipswich Team News
The early game, between the teams who are top and third in the second tier, looks like a cracker. These are the two XIs.
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; van Ewijk, Woolfenden, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, Grimes; the winger, the attacking midfielder, the forward; the striker.
Subs: The backup keeper, Allen, the forward, the defender, Bidwell, the defender, the midfielder, Perry, the player.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) Walton; Furlong, O’Shea, the defender, Greaves; the midfielder, Taylor; the attacker, the playmaker, the winger; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: Palmer, Young, Johnson, Humphreys, Cajuste, Burns, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
Referee Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Scenarios
The situation is complex. It always is when some but not all third-place sides progress. Here’s how things look before this evening's final set of matches.
- Morocco 4 points, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2pts, 0 goal difference (goals scored 1)
- The Coelacanths 1 point, GD-2
To summarize, Morocco are probably fine though they will aim to defeat Zambia to win the group. Zambia probably need a draw or better versus Morocco. Comoros probably must to overcome their rivals, who should advance with a point.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Angola v Egypt Update
The final act to the second group at this Africa Cup of Nations is being covered. To avoid spoilers, avoid following that coverage.
Championship 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 |
