Coventry v The Tractor Boys, The Foxes versus Derby, and More Football Action Updates
Welcome to a busy night of EFL as well as continental football action. The spotlight falls on key Championship matches plus those pivotal last pool matches in the Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Opening Notes
Hello everyone. You are welcome to the arguably the second-to-last football clockwatch of 2025. We have a full EFL schedule, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, while we’ll also be keeping a close watch on the two night fixtures from Group A at the Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on these fixtures, with 7.45pm start times unless stated.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros v The Eagles (19:00)
- The Copper Bullets v Morocco (19:00)
Championship
- The Sky Blues v Ipswich (6pm)
- The Foxes versus Derby
- Middlesbrough versus The Tigers
- Millwall versus Bristol City
- The Red Dragons versus North End
Third Tier Fixture
- Cardiff versus Stevenage
Recent Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the second tier, looks like an exciting match. These are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; van Ewijk, Woolfenden, Kitching, the left-back; Torp, Grimes; the winger, Rudoni, the forward; Wright.
Subs: Wilson, the midfielder, Simms, the defender, the full-back, the defender, Eccles, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; Furlong, O’Shea, the defender, Greaves; Matusiwa, Taylor; the attacker, the playmaker, the winger; Azon.
Substitutes: Palmer, Young, the midfielder, the defender, the midfielder, Burns, McAteer, the attacker, the striker.
Referee Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Permutations
Look, it’s complicated. That's often the case when some but not all third-place sides progress. This is the current state ahead of tonight’s last set of matches.
- Morocco 4 points, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2pts, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- The Copper Bullets 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 1)
- The Coelacanths 1 point, -2 goal difference
Briefly, Morocco are probably fine though they will aim to beat Zambia to top the group. Zambia likely requires at least a point against Morocco. The island nation probably need to beat their rivals, who will probably be okay with a draw.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Egypt's Match with Angola Latest
The final act of Group B at this Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, don’t click the link.
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 |
