Coventry versus Ipswich, Leicester versus Derby, along with More Football Action Previews
Greetings to a full night of Football League as well as international soccer fixtures. Our focus includes key second-tier clashes and those crucial last pool games in the Afcon tournament.
Preamble
Greetings to all. Welcome to the checks writing desk rota this second-to-last football live blog of 2025. There’s an extensive Football League slate, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, while we will also monitor a close watch on the two evening games from Group A at the Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on these matches, with 7.45pm kick-offs unless stated.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- The Coelacanths v The Eagles (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets versus Morocco (7pm)
Championship
- Coventry versus Ipswich (6pm)
- The Foxes v Derby
- Boro v The Tigers
- Millwall v The Robins
- The Red Dragons versus Preston
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds versus Boro
Latest Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The evening's opener, between the teams who are first and third in the second tier, looks like a cracker. These are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, Grimes; the winger, Rudoni, the forward; Wright.
Substitutes: The backup keeper, Allen, Simms, the defender, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, Perry, the player.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) Walton; Furlong, O’Shea, the defender, the left-back; Matusiwa, Taylor; Walle, the playmaker, the winger; the centre-forward.
Subs: Palmer, Young, the midfielder, the defender, the midfielder, Burns, the forward, the attacker, Akpom.
The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Permutations
It's a tricky picture. That's often the case where only some third-placed teams qualify. Here’s how things look ahead of tonight’s final round of games.
- Morocco 4 points, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2pts, 0 goal difference (goals scored 1)
- The Coelacanths 1pt, GD-2
To summarize, Morocco are probably fine but will want to beat Zambia and win the group. Zambia likely requires at least a point versus Morocco. Comoros probably need to beat Mali, who will probably be okay if they get a point.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Angola v Egypt Latest
The final act to the second group at this continental championship is being covered. For those wishing to remain unaware, don’t click the link.
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 |
