The Sky Blues against The Tractor Boys, Leicester versus Derby, along with Additional Football League Updates
Hello for the busy evening of Football League as well as international soccer fixtures. The spotlight falls on key second-tier matches and the pivotal last group games in this Afcon tournament.
Introduction
Greetings to all. You are welcome to the checks writing desk rota the penultimate soccer live blog of 2025. There’s a full Football League programme, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, while we’ll also be keeping at least a third of an eye on the two evening fixtures from Group A at this Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on these games, all 19:45 kick-offs unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths versus Mali (7pm)
- Zambia versus The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Championship
- Coventry versus Ipswich (6pm)
- The Foxes versus The Rams
- Boro versus The Tigers
- The Lions versus The Robins
- Wrexham versus Preston
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds v Stevenage
Recent Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, between the teams who are first and third in the second tier, could be an exciting match. Here are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, the centre-back, Kitching, Brau; the midfielder, the captain; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, the forward; the striker.
Substitutes: The backup keeper, Allen, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, the defender, Eccles, Perry, the player.
Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; Furlong, the centre-half, Kipre, Greaves; the midfielder, Taylor; the attacker, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Subs: The goalkeeper, the defender, the midfielder, the defender, Cajuste, Burns, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
The official Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Permutations
It's a tricky picture. That's often the case when some but not all third-placed teams progress. This is the current state ahead of this evening's last round of matches.
- Morocco 4 points, GD+2
- Mali 2 points, 0 goal difference (goals scored 2)
- The Copper Bullets 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 1)
- The Coelacanths 1 point, -2 goal difference
Briefly, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat Zambia to win their pool. Zambia likely requires at least a point versus the hosts. The island nation probably need to overcome their rivals, who will probably be okay with a point.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Egypt's Match with Angola Latest
The conclusion to Group B at this Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. For those wishing to remain unaware, don’t click the link.
Second Tier Table 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 |
