Coventry versus Ipswich, The Foxes against Derby, along with Additional Football Action Updates
Hello for a full evening of EFL and international football fixtures. We'll be covering key second-tier matches plus those crucial last group games in this Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Opening Notes
Greetings to all. Welcome to what is checks writing desk rota the second-to-last football live blog of 2025. There’s a full Football League schedule, starting 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 the first group at the Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Comoros v Mali.
Our primary attention will be on the following matches, all 19:45 start times unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- Comoros v The Eagles (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets versus The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Championship
- Coventry v Ipswich (18:00)
- The Foxes v The Rams
- Middlesbrough versus The Tigers
- Millwall versus The Robins
- Wrexham versus Preston
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds versus Stevenage
Latest Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The evening's opener, between the teams who are top and third in the second tier, looks like a thriller. These are the starting elevens.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; van Ewijk, Woolfenden, Kitching, Brau; the midfielder, the captain; Sakamoto, Rudoni, the forward; Wright.
Subs: Wilson, the midfielder, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, the defender, the midfielder, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; the defender, the centre-half, the defender, Greaves; Matusiwa, Taylor; Walle, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Substitutes: Palmer, Young, the midfielder, Humphreys, the midfielder, the winger, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
The official Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Scenarios
Look, it’s complicated. That's often the case where only some third-placed sides qualify. Here’s how things look ahead of tonight’s final set of matches.
- Morocco 4 points, GD+2
- The Eagles 2pts, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
- The Copper Bullets 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 1)
- The Coelacanths 1pt, GD-2
In short, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat their opponents to win the group. Zambia likely requires a draw or better against Morocco. Comoros probably need to beat their rivals, who should advance if they get a point.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Angola v Egypt Latest
The conclusion 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 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 |