Coventry versus Ipswich, Leicester versus The Rams, along with More EFL Action Updates
Welcome to a busy night of EFL as well as international football action. Our focus includes major second-tier clashes and the crucial final group matches in this Afcon competition.
Introduction
Hello everyone. Welcome to the checks writing desk rota the second-to-last soccer live blog of the year. There’s a full EFL programme, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, and we’ll also be keeping a close watch on the two evening games from the first group at the Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Mali facing Comoros.
We'll be focussing on these fixtures, all 19:45 kick-offs except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros v Mali (7pm)
- Zambia v The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Second Division Matches
- The Sky Blues v The Tractor Boys (18:00)
- Leicester versus Derby
- Boro versus Hull
- Millwall v The Robins
- The Red Dragons versus North End
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds versus Boro
Latest Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the Championship, looks like a thriller. Here are the starting elevens.
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; the right-back, Woolfenden, Kitching, Brau; Torp, the captain; Sakamoto, Rudoni, the forward; Wright.
Substitutes: Wilson, Allen, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, Eccles, Perry, the player.
Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; the defender, the centre-half, Kipre, Greaves; the midfielder, the midfielder; the attacker, Nunez, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Subs: The goalkeeper, the defender, the midfielder, the defender, Cajuste, Burns, the forward, the attacker, Akpom.
The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Scenarios
It's a tricky picture. It always is where only some third-place teams progress. Here’s how things look before tonight’s final round of matches.
- Morocco 4 points, GD+2
- The Eagles 2pts, 0 goal difference (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2 points, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1pt, -2 goal difference
Briefly, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat Zambia and top their pool. Zambia probably need a draw or better against the hosts. The island nation likely must to beat Mali, who will probably be okay with a point.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Egypt's Match with Angola Latest
The final act to the second group at the continental championship has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, don’t click the link.
Second Tier Standings 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 |
