Coventry versus The Tractor Boys, Leicester against Derby, and Additional EFL Action Updates
Welcome for the busy night of EFL as well as international football fixtures. We'll be covering key second-tier matches plus the crucial final pool matches in the Afcon tournament.
Preamble
Hello everyone. You are welcome to the arguably this penultimate football live blog of 2025. There’s an extensive Football League schedule, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, while we’ll also be keeping at least a third of an eye on both night fixtures from the first group at this Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Mali facing Comoros.
Our primary attention will be on these games, with 7.45pm start times except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros versus Mali (7pm)
- Zambia v Morocco (7pm)
Championship
- The Sky Blues versus The Tractor Boys (18:00)
- Leicester v Derby
- Boro v Hull
- Millwall v Bristol City
- Wrexham versus Preston
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds versus Boro
Latest Team News
Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups
The early game, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the second tier, looks like a thriller. These are the two XIs.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, Brau; Torp, Grimes; the winger, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Substitutes: Wilson, the midfielder, the forward, the defender, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; Furlong, O’Shea, the defender, Greaves; the midfielder, the midfielder; Walle, Nunez, the winger; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: The goalkeeper, Young, the midfielder, Humphreys, the midfielder, Burns, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Permutations
It's a tricky picture. It always is when some but not all third-place sides progress. Here’s how things look ahead of this evening's last round of games.
- Morocco 4pts, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2pts, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1 point, -2 goal difference
In short, Morocco is likely safe but will want to beat Zambia to win the group. Zambia probably need at least a point versus Morocco. Comoros likely must to overcome Mali, who will probably be okay with a draw.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The final act to the second group at the Africa Cup of Nations is being covered. If you don’t want to know the score, 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 |
