Coventry versus The Tractor Boys, Leicester versus Derby, and More Football League Previews
Greetings to the busy night of Football League as well as international football action. The spotlight falls on major Championship matches plus those crucial final group games in this Afcon competition.
Preamble
Hello everyone. Welcome to the arguably this penultimate football live blog of 2025. There’s a full Football League slate, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, and we’ll also be keeping at least a third of an eye on the two evening fixtures from Group A at the Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on these games, with 19:45 kick-offs unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- Comoros v Mali (19:00)
- The Copper Bullets v Morocco (7pm)
Championship
- Coventry v The Tractor Boys (18:00)
- Leicester v The Rams
- Middlesbrough versus Hull
- The Lions versus The Robins
- The Red Dragons versus Preston
League One
- The Bluebirds versus Boro
Latest Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The early game, between the teams who are top and third in the Championship, promises to be a cracker. These are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; van Ewijk, the centre-back, Kitching, the left-back; the midfielder, the captain; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Substitutes: The backup keeper, Allen, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, the midfielder, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; Furlong, O’Shea, Kipre, Greaves; Matusiwa, Taylor; the attacker, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: The goalkeeper, the defender, the midfielder, the defender, the midfielder, the winger, the forward, the attacker, the striker.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Permutations
Look, it’s complicated. That's often the case when some but not all third-placed sides qualify. This is the current state before this evening's last set of matches.
- Morocco 4pts, GD+2
- Mali 2 points, 0 goal difference (goals scored 2)
- The Copper Bullets 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1 point, -2 goal difference
In short, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat Zambia to win the group. Zambia probably need at least a point against Morocco. Comoros probably need to beat their rivals, who should advance if they get a draw.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Angola v Egypt Latest
The conclusion of the second group at this Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, don’t click the link.
Championship 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 |
