The Sky Blues v The Tractor Boys, Leicester v The Rams, along with More Football League Previews
Greetings to a busy evening of EFL as well as continental football fixtures. Our focus includes important Championship clashes plus those crucial final group matches in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Opening Notes
Greetings to all. You are welcome to what is arguably the penultimate soccer live blog of the year. We have a full Football League slate, 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 the Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Mali facing Comoros.
We'll be focussing on these games, with 19:45 start times unless stated.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros versus The Eagles (19:00)
- The Copper Bullets versus Morocco (19:00)
Championship
- The Sky Blues versus Ipswich (6pm)
- Leicester v Derby
- Boro v Hull
- The Lions versus Bristol City
- The Red Dragons v North End
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds v Stevenage
Latest Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The early game, between the teams who are top and third in the Championship, looks like a cracker. These are the starting elevens.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, Brau; Torp, the captain; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, the forward; Wright.
Subs: The backup keeper, the midfielder, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, the defender, the midfielder, Perry, the player.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) Walton; the defender, O’Shea, the defender, the left-back; Matusiwa, Taylor; the attacker, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: Palmer, Young, Johnson, the defender, the midfielder, Burns, McAteer, the attacker, the striker.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Scenarios
The situation is complex. It always is when some but not all third-placed teams qualify. Here’s how things look ahead of this evening's last set of games.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2pts, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2 points, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1 point, -2 goal difference
In short, Morocco are probably fine though they will aim to defeat Zambia and win their pool. Zambia likely requires at least a point against the hosts. Comoros likely need to overcome Mali, who will probably be okay with a draw.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The denouement to Group B at this Africa Cup of Nations is being covered. 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 |
