The Sky Blues versus The Tractor Boys, The Foxes v Derby, and More Football Action Updates
Greetings for a packed evening of EFL and continental soccer action. Our focus includes major second-tier encounters and those crucial final pool games in the Afcon tournament.
Introduction
Hello everyone. You are welcome to what is reportedly this second-to-last football live blog of 2025. We have an extensive Football League schedule, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, while we’ll also be keeping at least a third of an eye on the two night games from Group A at this Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Mali facing Comoros.
We'll be focussing on the following games, with 7.45pm kick-offs except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- The Coelacanths v Mali (7pm)
- Zambia versus The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Championship
- Coventry v The Tractor Boys (18:00)
- The Foxes versus The Rams
- Middlesbrough versus Hull
- Millwall v The Robins
- Wrexham v North End
Third Tier Fixture
- Cardiff v Stevenage
Recent Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The early game, between the teams who are first and third in the second tier, promises to be a thriller. Here are the starting elevens.
Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, Grimes; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Subs: Wilson, the midfielder, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, Eccles, the youngster, the player.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) Walton; Furlong, O’Shea, the defender, Greaves; the midfielder, Taylor; Walle, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Subs: The goalkeeper, Young, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, the winger, the forward, the attacker, Akpom.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Scenarios
The situation is complex. It always is where only some third-place sides progress. Here’s how things look ahead of tonight’s final set of matches.
- Morocco 4pts, GD+2
- The Eagles 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
- The Copper Bullets 2 points, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1 point, -2 goal difference
To summarize, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat Zambia to win the group. Zambia probably need a draw or better versus Morocco. Comoros likely need to beat Mali, who will probably be okay with a draw.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The conclusion to the second group at this continental championship has coverage elsewhere. For those wishing to remain unaware, avoid following that coverage.
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 |
