The Sky Blues against The Tractor Boys, Leicester versus Derby, and More Football Action Previews
Welcome to a packed night of Football League and international soccer fixtures. Our focus includes important second-tier encounters and the pivotal last group matches in the Afcon competition.
Opening Notes
Oh, hi folks. You are welcome to the reportedly the second-to-last soccer clockwatch of the year. There’s a full EFL schedule, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, while we’ll also be keeping at least a third of an eye on the two evening games from Group A at the Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia and Mali facing Comoros.
Our primary attention will be on these fixtures, all 19:45 kick-offs unless stated.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- The Coelacanths versus The Eagles (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets versus The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Championship
- The Sky Blues versus Ipswich (6pm)
- The Foxes versus The Rams
- Boro versus Hull
- The Lions v Bristol City
- The Red Dragons versus Preston
League One
- Cardiff v Boro
Latest Team News
Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups
The early game, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the second tier, could be a thriller. Here are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; van Ewijk, the centre-back, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, Grimes; the winger, the attacking midfielder, the forward; the striker.
Subs: Wilson, the midfielder, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; the defender, the centre-half, Kipre, the left-back; the midfielder, Taylor; Walle, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Subs: Palmer, the defender, the midfielder, Humphreys, the midfielder, Burns, McAteer, the attacker, Akpom.
The official 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-place teams progress. Here’s how things look ahead of tonight’s final set of games.
- Morocco 4 points, GD+2
- The Eagles 2 points, 0 goal difference (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2 points, 0 goal difference (goals scored 1)
- The Coelacanths 1 point, -2 goal difference
In short, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to beat Zambia and top the group. Zambia probably need at least a point versus the hosts. The island nation likely need to beat Mali, who should advance with a point.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Angola v Egypt Update
The final act to the second group at this Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, avoid following that coverage.
Championship 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 |
