Coventry v Ipswich, Leicester against The Rams, and More Football League Updates
Hello for the packed night of Football League and international football action. Our focus includes key second-tier clashes plus the pivotal last group games in the Afcon competition.
Preamble
Greetings to all. You are welcome to the reportedly the penultimate football clockwatch of the year. There’s an extensive Football League programme, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, and we’ll also be keeping a close watch on both night fixtures from the first group at this Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Mali facing Comoros.
Our primary attention will be on the following games, all 7.45pm start times unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- Comoros v Mali (7pm)
- Zambia versus The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Championship
- Coventry v The Tractor Boys (6pm)
- Leicester v The Rams
- Middlesbrough v Hull
- Millwall versus Bristol City
- Wrexham v North End
Third Tier Fixture
- Cardiff v Stevenage
Latest Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The early game, between the teams who are first and third in the second tier, looks like a cracker. Here are the starting elevens.
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; van Ewijk, the centre-back, the defender, Brau; Torp, Grimes; the winger, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Substitutes: Wilson, Allen, Simms, the defender, Bidwell, the defender, Eccles, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; the defender, O’Shea, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, Taylor; the attacker, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Substitutes: The goalkeeper, Young, Johnson, the defender, Cajuste, the winger, McAteer, the attacker, Akpom.
The official Anthony Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Permutations
It's a tricky picture. It always is where only some third-place teams qualify. This is the current state ahead of tonight’s final set of games.
- The Atlas Lions 4pts, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2 points, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
- The Copper Bullets 2pts, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1 point, GD-2
To summarize, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to beat Zambia and top their pool. Zambia likely requires at least a point versus the hosts. Comoros probably must to beat Mali, who should advance with a point.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Egypt's Match with Angola Latest
The conclusion of the second group 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 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 |
