The Sky Blues v The Tractor Boys, The Foxes against Derby, along with More Football Action Previews
Welcome for the packed evening of Football League and continental football action. Our focus includes important second-tier matches and the pivotal final group games in this Afcon tournament.
Opening Notes
Oh, hi folks. You are welcome to what is checks writing desk rota the second-to-last football live blog of the year. We have a full EFL programme, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, and we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on both night games from the first group at the Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia and Mali facing Comoros.
Our primary attention will be on the following games, all 7.45pm start times except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros versus The Eagles (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets v Morocco (7pm)
Championship
- The Sky Blues v The Tractor Boys (6pm)
- Leicester versus The Rams
- Boro v The Tigers
- The Lions versus The Robins
- The Red Dragons v Preston
Third Tier Fixture
- Cardiff versus Stevenage
Recent Lineup Updates
Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the second tier, promises to be a thriller. Here are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, Grimes; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Substitutes: Wilson, the midfielder, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, the defender, Eccles, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; Furlong, the centre-half, Kipre, the left-back; the midfielder, the midfielder; the attacker, Nunez, the winger; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: Palmer, Young, the midfielder, the defender, Cajuste, Burns, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
The official Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Permutations
It's a tricky picture. It always is where only some third-placed sides qualify. This is the current state ahead of tonight’s final round of matches.
- Morocco 4pts, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2 points, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
- The Copper Bullets 2pts, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1 point, -2 goal difference
To summarize, Morocco are probably fine but will want to beat Zambia and win their pool. Zambia likely requires at least a point against the hosts. The island nation probably need to beat Mali, who should advance with a draw.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Angola v Egypt Latest
The final act to Group B at the continental championship is being covered. 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 |
