Hello for the packed night of EFL as well as continental soccer action. The spotlight falls on key second-tier matches plus those crucial last group matches in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Introduction
Greetings to all. You are welcome to what is reportedly this second-to-last football live blog of the year. There’s an extensive Football League slate, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, while we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on the two evening games from the first group at the Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on the following matches, all 19:45 kick-offs except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- The Coelacanths versus The Eagles (19:00)
- The Copper Bullets versus Morocco (19:00)
Second Division Matches
- The Sky Blues v Ipswich (18:00)
- The Foxes v The Rams
- Middlesbrough versus The Tigers
- Millwall v The Robins
- Wrexham v 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 second tier, looks like an exciting match. Here are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; van Ewijk, the centre-back, Kitching, the left-back; Torp, Grimes; the winger, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Subs: Wilson, Allen, Simms, the defender, Bidwell, the defender, Eccles, Perry, the player.
Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; the defender, the centre-half, Kipre, Greaves; Matusiwa, the midfielder; Walle, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Subs: Palmer, the defender, Johnson, the defender, Cajuste, the winger, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Permutations
It's a tricky picture. It always is when some but not all third-place teams qualify. Here’s how things look ahead of tonight’s last set of games.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, GD+2
- The Eagles 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
- The Copper Bullets 2 points, 0 goal difference (goals scored 1)
- Comoros 1 point, -2 goal difference
Briefly, Morocco is likely safe but will want to defeat Zambia to top the group. Zambia likely requires at least a point versus the hosts. Comoros probably must to beat Mali, who will probably be okay if they get a point.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Egypt's Match with Angola Latest
The final act of the second group at the Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. For those wishing to remain unaware, it's best not to seek out that information.
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 |
