Ipswich are yet to have a shot in the second half yet. A real game of two halves so far.

The fans at one end of the pitch are certainly getting full value for money.

Victor Torp sends in the free-kick from the right for Coventry... it hits one head, then another for the Sky Blues and eventually runs through to Ipswich keeper Christian Walton.

Moments later, Jack Clarke is clipped in behind for Ipswich and tries to square it when maybe he should shoot but overhits the pass... a good chance goes begging.

Two promotion challengers really going at it here.

Ipswich midfielder Jack Taylor flies into a meaty challenge on Coventry full-back Milan van Ewijk and that's a clear yellow card.

The decibel levels go up another few notches once again.

Tackles flying in all over the place here. It's getting a bit heated.

Ephron Mason-Clark bundles over Darnell Furlong as Coventry look to break forward and the ref pulls it up for the foul.

The crowd are up.

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Two clubs happy to see the back of 2025 conclude their year at Hillsborough.

Sheffield Wednesday's on-field fate is virtually sealed by virtue of 18 points-worth of deductions. Their big issue off-field is to see who takes ownership to bring about much, much better times at Hillsborough.

Unhappiness also prevails in the blue-and-white part of east Lancashire.

From seventh in May, they lost key players through the summer and an inexperienced Championship squad has found going tough this campaign.

Currently 18th, they remain only four points clear of trouble and a trip across the Pennines will have been earmarked for a positive result.

One good thing to note before kick-off, though. The reverse fixture was abandoned at Ewood Park earlier this month due to a waterlogged pitch.

We can pretty much guarantee that will not happen tonight.

Steve Ogrizovic
Ex-Coventry City goalkeeper on BBC CWR

I don't know if I'm missing something but I think Furlong got the first touch there.

I don't see a real big deal with that.

This is a very clumsy challenge on Coventry striker Haji Wright by Darnell Furlong... He bundles into the back of Wright in the area and the home support are screaming for a penalty.

The ref says no.

Another effort for Coventry as Ephron Mason-Clark meets Jack Rudoni's cross from the right with his head but it's very well defended by Ipswich centre-back Dara O'Shea, who forces it behind for a corner.

The resulting set-piece flicks out off an Ipswich body for another corner to the Sky Blues.

Rob Gurney
BBC Radio CWR Sport

Image source, Shutterstock

The fans are collectively trying to do their bit to raise the players game.

I wonder if Frank Lampard will be contemplating some changes sooner rather than later.

Coventry are looking better in this second half compared to the first.

They've already had more shots (3) in this second period than they did in the first 45 minutes (1).

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When these two met three weeks ago, early-season high-flyers Stoke were inside the play-off places, where they had been since the first game of the season.

Fast forward to tonight and Mark Robins' side are looking for a win to return them to the top six, following a run of four defeats in five - including a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of tonight's opponents - that has seen them drop from second to 10th.

Perhaps a home tie is exactly what the doctor ordered - the Potters have conceded the fewest of any team in front of their own fans this campaign.

And what better opponents to test that theory against than the team who have conceded the most on their travels so far in 2025-26.

Chris Wilder's Sheffield United have been trending largely upwards since the 58-year-old returned to Bramall Lane in September, and the Blades have lost just once in their past eight games, scoring 17 of their 31 goals so far this season in that time.

From rock bottom to 19th, and four points clear of the relegation fight.

In 45 games in 2025, United have won 21 and lost 20. Tonight, a chance to end a strange year with three more points and a step towards safety.

Ipswich send a long, looping ball towards the far post and Jack Clarke is trying to get on the end of it but Ephron Mason-Clark does well in his defensive duties to usher it out of play for a goal-kick.

Coventry really having to dig in tonight.

A reminder that Coventry have won their past two home games 1-0...

A bit of incentive for Coventry here as they get a sight of the Ipswich goal.

Haji Wright drives forward and his effort from 20 yards is deflected by Darnell Furlong but Christian Walton does well to parry well away from goal with Ephron Mason-Clark waiting for a tap-in.

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There will be a grand total of just eight games in the dugout with their respective clubs between the two managers when Oxford and Swansea kick-off tonight.

But in that short time, both Craig Short and Vitor Matos have started to steady their ships.

Oxford's 2-1 win over Southampton on Boxing Day was their first in five games and first since Gary Rowett's departure after a year in charge.

Indeed, the U's have quite a record when it comes to this time of the year, having won their final league game of December in five of the past six years.

Over in south Wales, the Swans have won three of their past six games since Portuguese Matos took charge.

That may not sound much, but given City had won just four of their previous 17, it already seems as though the Swans are swimming on calmer tides.

A big part of that has been striker Jan Vipotnik, who has nine goals this term in the league, three of which have come in the six games under Matos.

Four points and one position separate these two before tonight, and an away win could leave those in yellow starting to feel cut adrift in the race to beat the drop.

Town full-back Darnell Furlong and Coventry forward Ephron Mason-Clark have been grappling almost non-stop throughout this game.

They're at it again. This time the free-kick goes Ipswich's way.

Coventry skipper Matt Grimes goes down under the challenge of Jack Clarke on the halfway line as Ipswich look to breakaway and the ref gives the foul. Clarke is convinced it was a fair challenge.

This feels like a big half for both sides.