The Sky Blues v Ipswich, The Foxes against Derby, and More EFL League Updates
Hello for a full evening of Football League as well as international soccer action. Our focus includes important Championship clashes and those crucial last group matches in the Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Opening Notes
Greetings to all. Welcome to what is reportedly this penultimate football live blog of the year. There’s an extensive EFL slate, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, while we’ll also be keeping at least a third of an eye on both night fixtures from the first group at the Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Mali facing Comoros.
We'll be focussing on these matches, with 7.45pm start times except where noted.
Afcon 2025
- Comoros versus The Eagles (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets v The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Second Division Matches
- The Sky Blues v The Tractor Boys (6pm)
- The Foxes versus Derby
- Middlesbrough versus Hull
- The Lions v Bristol City
- The Red Dragons versus North End
League One
- The Bluebirds versus Stevenage
Recent Team News
Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups
The early game, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the second tier, promises to be a thriller. These are the two XIs.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, Grimes; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, the forward; the striker.
Substitutes: Wilson, Allen, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, the youngster, the player.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; the defender, the centre-half, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, Taylor; Walle, the playmaker, the winger; Azon.
Subs: The goalkeeper, the defender, Johnson, the defender, the midfielder, the winger, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Scenarios
Look, it’s complicated. That's often the case where only some third-place teams progress. This is the current state before tonight’s final round of games.
- Morocco 4pts, GD+2
- Mali 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
- The Copper Bullets 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1 point, GD-2
Briefly, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to beat their opponents and win the group. Zambia probably need at least a point against the hosts. The island nation likely must to overcome Mali, who should advance with a draw.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The denouement to the second group at this continental championship has coverage elsewhere. 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 |