Coventry against The Tractor Boys, Leicester against The Rams, and Additional Football League Updates
Welcome to a full evening of Football League and continental football action. We'll be covering important second-tier encounters plus the crucial final group matches in the Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Opening Notes
Hello everyone. You are welcome to the reportedly the penultimate football clockwatch of 2025. There’s an extensive Football League programme, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, and we’ll also be keeping a close watch on the two evening fixtures from the first group at this Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on these fixtures, all 19:45 kick-offs except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- The Coelacanths v Mali (19:00)
- Zambia v Morocco (7pm)
Championship
- Coventry versus Ipswich (18:00)
- The Foxes versus The Rams
- Boro v The Tigers
- Millwall versus The Robins
- The Red Dragons v North End
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds v Boro
Latest Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the Championship, looks like an exciting match. These are the two XIs.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, the centre-back, Kitching, Brau; the midfielder, Grimes; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Subs: The backup keeper, Allen, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, the defender, the midfielder, the youngster, the player.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) Walton; Furlong, the centre-half, the defender, Greaves; Matusiwa, Taylor; Walle, Nunez, the winger; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: Palmer, the defender, the midfielder, Humphreys, the midfielder, Burns, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Scenarios
The situation is complex. That's often the case when some but not all third-place sides progress. This is the current state ahead of tonight’s final set of games.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2 points, 0 goal difference (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1 point, -2 goal difference
Briefly, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to beat Zambia and win the group. Zambia likely requires at least a point versus the hosts. The island nation likely must to beat their rivals, who should advance with a point.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Egypt's Match with Angola Latest
The denouement of the second group at this continental championship is being covered. If you don’t want to know the score, avoid following that coverage.
Second Tier Standings Overview
| 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 |
