Coventry versus The Tractor Boys, The Foxes versus The Rams, and More EFL Action Previews
Hello for a packed evening of EFL and continental soccer action. Our focus includes important Championship matches plus those pivotal last pool games in the Afcon competition.
Preamble
Hello everyone. Welcome to the reportedly the second-to-last football clockwatch of the year. There’s a full EFL schedule, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, while we will also monitor a close watch on both evening games from Group A at the Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia and Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on the following fixtures, with 7.45pm start times unless stated.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros versus The Eagles (19:00)
- The Copper Bullets versus Morocco (19:00)
Second Division Matches
- Coventry v The Tractor Boys (6pm)
- The Foxes versus Derby
- Middlesbrough versus Hull
- The Lions versus The Robins
- The Red Dragons versus North End
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds v Boro
Recent Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The early game, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the second tier, looks like a thriller. Here are the starting elevens.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; the right-back, the centre-back, Kitching, Brau; Torp, Grimes; the winger, Rudoni, the forward; the striker.
Subs: The backup keeper, the midfielder, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; Furlong, the centre-half, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, Taylor; the attacker, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Subs: Palmer, the defender, the midfielder, Humphreys, Cajuste, Burns, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
Referee Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Scenarios
It's a tricky picture. That's often the case when some but not all third-place teams progress. Here’s how things look ahead of tonight’s last round of games.
- The Atlas Lions 4pts, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2 points, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
- The Copper Bullets 2pts, 0 goal difference (goals scored 1)
- The Coelacanths 1 point, GD-2
In short, Morocco are probably fine but will want to beat their opponents to top the group. Zambia probably need a draw or better against the hosts. Comoros likely must to beat Mali, who will probably be okay with a point.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Angola v Egypt Latest
The denouement to Group B at this Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. For those wishing to remain unaware, 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 |
