Coventry v Ipswich, The Foxes against The Rams, along with More Football Action Previews
Welcome to a packed night of EFL and international soccer action. Our focus includes major Championship matches plus the crucial final pool matches in this Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Opening Notes
Oh, hi folks. You are welcome to the checks writing desk rota this second-to-last soccer clockwatch of 2025. There’s a full EFL programme, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, while we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on both evening fixtures from the first group at the Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on the following matches, with 7.45pm kick-offs unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths versus Mali (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets v The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Second Division Matches
- The Sky Blues versus The Tractor Boys (18:00)
- Leicester v Derby
- Boro v Hull
- The Lions v The Robins
- The Red Dragons versus North End
League One
- Cardiff v Boro
Recent Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The early game, between the teams who are top and third in the second tier, promises to be a thriller. Here are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, the captain; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Substitutes: The backup keeper, Allen, the forward, the defender, the full-back, the defender, Eccles, the youngster, the player.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) Walton; Furlong, O’Shea, the defender, Greaves; Matusiwa, the midfielder; the attacker, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Subs: The goalkeeper, the defender, Johnson, the defender, Cajuste, the winger, the forward, the attacker, Akpom.
The official Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Permutations
It's a tricky picture. That's often the case when some but not all third-place sides progress. Here’s how things look before tonight’s final set of matches.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2 points, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
- The Copper Bullets 2 points, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1pt, GD-2
In short, Morocco is likely safe but will want to beat Zambia to win their pool. Zambia likely requires at least a point against Morocco. Comoros probably must to beat Mali, who should advance with a point.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Angola v Egypt Latest
The denouement of the second group at the continental championship is being covered. If you don’t want to know the score, avoid following that coverage.
Championship 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 |
