The Sky Blues versus The Tractor Boys, The Foxes versus Derby, and Additional Football Action Updates
Hello to the full night of Football League and international football action. We'll be covering key Championship clashes and the crucial final pool games in the Afcon tournament.
Opening Notes
Hello everyone. You are welcome to what is reportedly this second-to-last soccer clockwatch of the year. We have an extensive Football League programme, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, and we will also monitor a close watch on the two night games from Group A at the Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Mali facing Comoros.
Our primary attention will be on the following matches, with 7.45pm start times unless stated.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- The Coelacanths v Mali (7pm)
- Zambia v Morocco (7pm)
Championship
- Coventry versus The Tractor Boys (6pm)
- The Foxes versus The Rams
- Middlesbrough versus Hull
- Millwall versus Bristol City
- The Red Dragons versus North End
League One
- Cardiff versus Boro
Recent Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the second tier, promises to be a thriller. Here are the two XIs.
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, Grimes; the winger, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Substitutes: Wilson, the midfielder, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, the midfielder, Perry, the player.
Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; Furlong, the centre-half, Kipre, the left-back; Matusiwa, the midfielder; the attacker, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: Palmer, Young, Johnson, Humphreys, Cajuste, the winger, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
The official Anthony Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Scenarios
Look, it’s complicated. That's often the case where only some third-place sides qualify. Here’s how things look ahead of this evening's last round of matches.
- Morocco 4pts, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
- Zambia 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 1)
- Comoros 1pt, GD-2
Briefly, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to beat their opponents and win the group. Zambia likely requires at least a point against the hosts. The island nation probably need to beat Mali, who will probably be okay with a point.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Angola v Egypt Update
The final act of the second group at this Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, avoid following that coverage.
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 |
