The Sky Blues against The Tractor Boys, Leicester versus Derby, and More EFL League Updates
Hello for the full night of EFL as well as international soccer action. The spotlight falls on key second-tier matches and the pivotal final group games in this Afcon competition.
Introduction
Oh, hi folks. You are welcome to the arguably the second-to-last football clockwatch of the year. We have a full EFL schedule, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, and we’ll also be keeping at least a third of an eye on the two night fixtures from the first group at this Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on these games, all 7.45pm kick-offs unless stated.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros versus The Eagles (19:00)
- The Copper Bullets v The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Championship
- The Sky Blues versus Ipswich (6pm)
- The Foxes versus Derby
- Middlesbrough versus Hull
- Millwall versus The Robins
- The Red Dragons versus Preston
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds versus Stevenage
Latest Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The early game, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the Championship, looks like an exciting match. Here are the two XIs.
Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, Grimes; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Substitutes: Wilson, the midfielder, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, Eccles, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; the defender, the centre-half, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, Taylor; Walle, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Substitutes: Palmer, Young, the midfielder, the defender, the midfielder, the winger, the forward, the attacker, the striker.
Referee Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Scenarios
It's a tricky picture. That's often the case where only some third-placed sides qualify. Here’s how things look before this evening's last round of games.
- Morocco 4pts, GD+2
- The Eagles 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1pt, -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 Morocco. The island nation probably need to beat their rivals, who should advance if they get a point.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The conclusion to the second group at the continental championship has coverage elsewhere. If you don’t want to know the score, it's best not to seek out that information.
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 |
