Coventry against The Tractor Boys, Leicester against The Rams, along with Additional Football League Previews
Hello to the full night of Football League and international football fixtures. The spotlight falls on key Championship encounters and those pivotal final pool games in the Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Introduction
Oh, hi folks. You are welcome to what is arguably this penultimate football live blog of 2025. There’s an extensive EFL programme, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, and we will also monitor a close watch on both evening games from Group A at this Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia and Comoros v Mali.
Our primary attention will be on the following games, with 19:45 kick-offs except where noted.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths versus The Eagles (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets v Morocco (7pm)
Championship
- The Sky Blues versus Ipswich (6pm)
- The Foxes v The Rams
- Middlesbrough versus Hull
- Millwall versus Bristol City
- Wrexham versus Preston
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds versus Stevenage
Latest Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The early game, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the second tier, looks like an exciting match. These are the starting elevens.
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, Grimes; the winger, the attacking midfielder, the forward; Wright.
Subs: Wilson, Allen, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; Furlong, the centre-half, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, the midfielder; Walle, Nunez, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Subs: Palmer, Young, the midfielder, the defender, the midfielder, Burns, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
The official Anthony Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Permutations
It's a tricky picture. It always is where only some third-placed teams qualify. This is the current state before this evening's last round of matches.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, 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
Briefly, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to defeat their opponents to win their pool. Zambia likely requires a draw or better versus the hosts. The island nation probably need to overcome Mali, who will probably be okay if they get a draw.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Angola v Egypt Latest
The final act to the second group at this continental championship has coverage elsewhere. If you don’t want to know the score, avoid following that coverage.
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 |
