Coventry v The Tractor Boys, Leicester against Derby, and More EFL League Previews
Welcome to the busy night of Football League as well as international soccer action. Our focus includes important Championship clashes and the pivotal final pool games in the Afcon tournament.
Opening Notes
Oh, hi folks. Welcome to what is reportedly the penultimate football clockwatch of 2025. There’s a full Football League programme, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, and we’ll also be keeping a close watch on both night games from the first group at this Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Comoros v Mali.
Our primary attention will be on these fixtures, with 7.45pm start times except where noted.
Afcon 2025
- Comoros versus Mali (19:00)
- The Copper Bullets v The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Second Division Matches
- Coventry versus The Tractor Boys (6pm)
- Leicester versus Derby
- Boro v The Tigers
- The Lions versus The Robins
- The Red Dragons versus North End
League One
- Cardiff v Stevenage
Recent Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The evening's opener, between the teams who are top and third in the Championship, looks like a cracker. These are the starting elevens.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, Grimes; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, the forward; the striker.
Subs: Wilson, Allen, Simms, the defender, Bidwell, the defender, Eccles, the youngster, the player.
Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; Furlong, O’Shea, Kipre, the left-back; Matusiwa, the midfielder; the attacker, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Substitutes: Palmer, Young, the midfielder, the defender, Cajuste, Burns, McAteer, the attacker, the striker.
The official Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Permutations
Look, it’s complicated. That's often the case where only some third-placed teams progress. Here’s how things look before tonight’s final round of matches.
- The Atlas Lions 4pts, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2pts, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- The Copper Bullets 2 points, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1 point, GD-2
In short, Morocco are probably fine though they will aim to beat Zambia and top their pool. Zambia probably need at least a point versus the hosts. Comoros probably must to overcome Mali, who will probably be okay if they get a draw.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Egypt's Match with Angola Latest
The final act to the second group at this continental championship is being covered. For those wishing to remain unaware, it's best not to seek out that information.
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 |
