Coventry versus The Tractor Boys, Leicester against Derby, along with More EFL Action Previews
Hello for a full evening of Football League and continental soccer action. The spotlight falls on key second-tier encounters plus the crucial last pool matches in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Opening Notes
Hello everyone. Welcome to what is reportedly this penultimate soccer clockwatch of 2025. We have an extensive Football League programme, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, and we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on the two night fixtures from Group A at this Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Comoros v Mali.
Our primary attention will be on these matches, all 7.45pm start times except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- The Coelacanths versus The Eagles (19:00)
- The Copper Bullets versus The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Championship
- Coventry v The Tractor Boys (18:00)
- Leicester v Derby
- Boro versus The Tigers
- The Lions versus Bristol City
- Wrexham v North End
League One
- The Bluebirds v Stevenage
Recent Team News
Coventry v Ipswich Team News
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the second tier, promises to be a cracker. Here are the two XIs.
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, Woolfenden, Kitching, Brau; Torp, the captain; the winger, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Substitutes: Wilson, the midfielder, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; Furlong, O’Shea, Kipre, the left-back; the midfielder, Taylor; Walle, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Subs: The goalkeeper, Young, Johnson, the defender, the midfielder, the winger, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Scenarios
It's a tricky picture. It always is where only some third-placed teams qualify. Here’s how things look ahead of tonight’s last set of games.
- The Atlas Lions 4pts, GD+2
- Mali 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
- Zambia 2 points, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1 point, GD-2
In short, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to beat Zambia and top their pool. Zambia probably need at least a point against the hosts. Comoros probably need to overcome their rivals, who will probably be okay with a point.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Angola v Egypt Update
The conclusion of Group B at this continental championship has coverage elsewhere. If you don’t want to know the score, it's best not to seek out that information.
Second Tier Standings 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 |
