Coventry v Ipswich, The Foxes against Derby, and Additional Football League Previews
Greetings to the busy night of EFL and continental soccer fixtures. Our focus includes major second-tier matches and the crucial final group games in the Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Opening Notes
Hello everyone. Welcome to what is checks writing desk rota this penultimate soccer live blog of 2025. We have an extensive Football League programme, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, while we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on the two evening games from Group A at this Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on the following matches, all 19:45 kick-offs unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths v Mali (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets versus Morocco (19:00)
Championship
- Coventry v The Tractor Boys (18:00)
- The Foxes versus The Rams
- Middlesbrough v The Tigers
- Millwall v Bristol City
- Wrexham versus Preston
League One
- Cardiff versus Boro
Recent Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The evening's opener, between the teams who are top and third in the second tier, promises to be an exciting match. Here are the two XIs.
Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; the right-back, Woolfenden, Kitching, Brau; the midfielder, the captain; Sakamoto, Rudoni, the forward; the striker.
Substitutes: Wilson, Allen, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, Eccles, Perry, the player.
Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; Furlong, O’Shea, Kipre, Greaves; Matusiwa, the midfielder; Walle, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: The goalkeeper, the defender, the midfielder, the defender, the midfielder, the winger, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: Group A Permutations
The situation is complex. It always is when some but not all third-placed teams qualify. This is the current state before this evening's final set of matches.
- Morocco 4 points, GD+2
- The Eagles 2pts, 0 goal difference (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2pts, GD0 (goals scored 1)
- The Coelacanths 1pt, -2 goal difference
Briefly, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to defeat their opponents to top the group. Zambia likely requires a draw or better against the hosts. The island nation likely need to beat Mali, who should advance if they get a point.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The final act to 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 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 |
