Coventry against Ipswich, Leicester versus Derby, along with Additional EFL Action Updates
Greetings for the full night of EFL and continental football action. The spotlight falls on key Championship clashes and the pivotal last group matches in this Afcon tournament.
Introduction
Greetings to all. Welcome to what is checks writing desk rota this second-to-last football clockwatch of 2025. There’s a full EFL programme, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, and we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on both evening games from Group A at the Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Mali facing Comoros.
We'll be focussing on the following matches, all 19:45 start times except where noted.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths versus Mali (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets versus The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Second Division Matches
- The Sky Blues versus Ipswich (6pm)
- Leicester versus The Rams
- Boro v The Tigers
- Millwall v Bristol City
- The Red Dragons v Preston
Third Tier Fixture
- Cardiff v Stevenage
Recent Team News
Coventry v Ipswich Team News
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the Championship, could be a cracker. Here are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, Brau; Torp, the captain; the winger, the attacking midfielder, the forward; Wright.
Subs: Wilson, the midfielder, Simms, the defender, the full-back, the defender, the midfielder, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; the defender, O’Shea, the defender, Greaves; the midfielder, Taylor; the attacker, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Substitutes: Palmer, the defender, Johnson, the defender, Cajuste, the winger, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: Group A Scenarios
Look, it’s complicated. That's often the case where only some third-place sides progress. This is the current state ahead of this evening's last set of games.
- Morocco 4pts, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1pt, -2 goal difference
Briefly, Morocco is likely safe but will want to beat their opponents and win their pool. Zambia probably need a draw or better against the hosts. Comoros likely need to beat their rivals, who will probably be okay if they get a draw.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The final act of Group B at this Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. If you don’t want to know the score, 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 |
