Coventry v The Tractor Boys, Leicester against Derby, along with Additional Football League Previews
Greetings to a full evening of Football League as well as continental football action. The spotlight falls on important Championship clashes plus the pivotal final pool games in this Afcon tournament.
Opening Notes
Hello everyone. You are welcome to what is reportedly the second-to-last football clockwatch of 2025. We have a full Football League programme, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, and we’ll also be keeping at least a third of an eye on both evening games from the first group at this Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Mali facing Comoros.
Our primary attention will be on the following fixtures, all 7.45pm start times unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths v Mali (19:00)
- The Copper Bullets v Morocco (7pm)
Second Division Matches
- Coventry versus The Tractor Boys (18:00)
- Leicester versus The Rams
- Middlesbrough versus The Tigers
- Millwall versus The Robins
- Wrexham versus Preston
League One
- The Bluebirds v Stevenage
Latest Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The evening's opener, between the teams who are first and third in the second tier, could be a cracker. Here are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, the centre-back, Kitching, the left-back; Torp, the captain; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, the forward; Wright.
Substitutes: The backup keeper, the midfielder, the forward, the defender, the full-back, the defender, Eccles, Perry, the player.
Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; the defender, O’Shea, Kipre, the left-back; the midfielder, Taylor; Walle, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: Palmer, the defender, the midfielder, Humphreys, Cajuste, the winger, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
Referee Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Scenarios
It's a tricky picture. It always is where only some third-placed sides qualify. This is the current state before this evening's last round of games.
- Morocco 4pts, GD+2
- Mali 2pts, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- The Copper Bullets 2pts, 0 goal difference (goals scored 1)
- Comoros 1 point, GD-2
In short, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat their opponents and win their pool. Zambia probably need at least a point versus the hosts. The island nation probably must to overcome Mali, who will probably be okay if they get a point.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Angola v Egypt Update
The denouement of the second group at the Africa Cup of Nations is being covered. To avoid spoilers, 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 |
