The Sky Blues against The Tractor Boys, The Foxes against The Rams, along with Additional Football Action Previews
Welcome to a packed night of Football League and continental football action. Our focus includes important second-tier matches plus those crucial final pool games in the Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Introduction
Oh, hi folks. You are welcome to what is checks writing desk rota the penultimate soccer clockwatch of the year. We have a full Football League slate, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, and we’ll also be keeping a close watch on both evening fixtures from the first group at this Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on the following fixtures, all 19:45 kick-offs except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros v Mali (19:00)
- Zambia v The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Championship
- Coventry v The Tractor Boys (6pm)
- The Foxes versus The Rams
- Middlesbrough versus Hull
- Millwall v Bristol City
- The Red Dragons versus Preston
League One
- The Bluebirds v Boro
Recent Team News
Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, between the teams who are first and third in the second tier, looks like a cracker. These are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, Brau; Torp, the captain; the winger, the attacking midfielder, the forward; the striker.
Substitutes: Wilson, Allen, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; the defender, O’Shea, the defender, Greaves; the midfielder, Taylor; Walle, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Substitutes: The goalkeeper, the defender, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, the winger, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
The official Anthony Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Scenarios
It's a tricky picture. That's often the case where only some third-placed teams progress. Here’s how things look before this evening's last round of matches.
- Morocco 4 points, GD+2
- The Eagles 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- The Copper Bullets 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1 point, -2 goal difference
In short, Morocco is likely safe but will want to beat their opponents to top the group. Zambia likely requires at least a point versus the hosts. Comoros probably need to beat their rivals, 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 Group B at the continental championship has coverage elsewhere. If you don’t want to know the score, don’t click the link.
Championship 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 |
