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Welcome to a packed night of Football League and international football action. We'll be covering key second-tier matches plus those pivotal final group games in this Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

Preamble

Greetings to all. You are welcome to what is checks writing desk rota this penultimate football clockwatch of the year. We have a full Football League slate, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, while we’ll also be keeping a close watch on the two night games from Group A at the Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia and Comoros v Mali.

We'll be focussing on the following games, all 19:45 kick-offs unless stated.

Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures

• Comoros versus Mali (7pm)
• The Copper Bullets v The Atlas Lions (19:00)

Second Division Matches

• Coventry versus Ipswich (6pm)
• The Foxes versus Derby
• Boro v Hull
• Millwall versus The Robins
• Wrexham versus Preston

Third Tier Fixture

• Cardiff versus Boro

Latest Lineup Updates

Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups

The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the Championship, promises to be a cracker. These are the two XIs.

Coventry (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, the left-back; Torp, the captain; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.

Subs: The backup keeper, the midfielder, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, Eccles, Perry, Andrews.

Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; Furlong, O’Shea, Kipre, the left-back; the midfielder, the midfielder; the attacker, Nunez, Jack Clarke; Azon.

Substitutes: The goalkeeper, Young, Johnson, Humphreys, Cajuste, Burns, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.

The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).

Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Permutations

It's a tricky picture. That's often the case where only some third-place sides qualify. Here’s how things look before tonight’s last set of matches.

• The Atlas Lions 4pts, GD+2
• The Eagles 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
• The Copper Bullets 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 1)
• Comoros 1 point, GD-2

To summarize, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to defeat their opponents and win their pool. Zambia likely requires at least a point versus Morocco. The island nation probably must to overcome Mali, who should advance if they get a draw.

Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.

Egypt's Match with Angola Update

The final act to Group B at the Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, don’t click the link.

Championship Standings 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