The Sky Blues v The Tractor Boys, Leicester against The Rams, and More Football League Updates
Hello to the packed evening of EFL and continental soccer action. We'll be covering key second-tier clashes and those pivotal final pool games in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Introduction
Oh, hi folks. You are welcome to what is arguably the penultimate football live blog of 2025. We have an extensive EFL programme, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, and we’ll also be keeping a close watch on both night fixtures from Group A at this Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Comoros v Mali.
Our primary attention will be on these games, with 7.45pm kick-offs unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- Comoros versus Mali (19:00)
- Zambia v Morocco (7pm)
Championship
- The Sky Blues versus The Tractor Boys (18:00)
- Leicester versus Derby
- Boro versus Hull
- Millwall v Bristol City
- The Red Dragons v North End
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds v Boro
Recent Team News
Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the second tier, looks like a thriller. Here are the two XIs.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, Grimes; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Subs: Wilson, the midfielder, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; the defender, the centre-half, Kipre, Greaves; the midfielder, Taylor; the attacker, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Subs: Palmer, the defender, the midfielder, Humphreys, the midfielder, Burns, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Permutations
The situation is complex. It always is where only some third-place teams progress. Here’s how things look ahead of tonight’s final round of games.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2 points, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
- The Copper Bullets 2pts, 0 goal difference (goals scored 1)
- The Coelacanths 1pt, GD-2
In short, Morocco are probably fine but will want to beat Zambia and top the group. Zambia likely requires at least a point versus Morocco. The island nation likely must to overcome their rivals, who should advance if they get a draw.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Angola v Egypt Update
The conclusion of the second group at this continental championship has coverage elsewhere. If you don’t want to know the score, avoid following that coverage.
Second Tier Table Overview
| 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 |
