The Sky Blues v Ipswich, The Foxes v The Rams, and Additional Football League Previews
Welcome to a packed night of EFL and continental football fixtures. The spotlight falls on major second-tier encounters plus the crucial last group games in this Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Introduction
Greetings to all. You are welcome to the checks writing desk rota this penultimate soccer clockwatch of 2025. We have a full EFL slate, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, while we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on both evening games from Group A at this Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Mali facing Comoros.
We'll be focussing on these matches, all 7.45pm kick-offs unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- Comoros versus The Eagles (19:00)
- The Copper Bullets versus The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Second Division Matches
- Coventry v Ipswich (6pm)
- Leicester versus Derby
- Boro versus The Tigers
- The Lions v Bristol City
- The Red Dragons versus Preston
League One
- Cardiff versus Stevenage
Latest Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the Championship, looks like a cracker. Here are the starting elevens.
Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; van Ewijk, the centre-back, Kitching, Brau; Torp, the captain; the winger, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Subs: The backup keeper, the midfielder, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; the defender, O’Shea, Kipre, the left-back; the midfielder, Taylor; the attacker, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: Palmer, the defender, the midfielder, the defender, Cajuste, the winger, the forward, the attacker, Akpom.
Referee Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Permutations
It's a tricky picture. It always is where only some third-placed sides progress. This is the current state before tonight’s final set of matches.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2 points, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
- Zambia 2pts, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1pt, GD-2
Briefly, Morocco is likely safe but will want to beat Zambia and top the group. Zambia probably need a draw or better against the hosts. The island nation likely need to overcome their rivals, who will probably be okay with a draw.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The denouement to the second group at this continental championship is being covered. To avoid spoilers, it's best not to seek out that information.
Championship 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 |
