It's half-time at the Valley - but what else is going on in the second tier today?

Brighton can go back to the top of the table if they beat Birmingham at the Amex - but Gary Rowett's side are having a fine season themselves and currently hold the final play-off place.

Middlesbrough will also have an eye on regaining top spot as they head to Huddersfield and the home debut of the Terriers' former Dortmund coach David Wagner.

Bottom side Bolton are not in action until Monday, but 23rd-placed Rotherham will be hoping to close the gap on those above when they host fellow strugglers Bristol City.

Image source, Rex Features

A goal lacking in the head-tennis department but Ipswich do double their lead on the stroke of half-time. A ball forward catches the Addicks square and Freddie Sears rams home with the aid of a deflection.

Follow that game in full here.

Dion Dublin
Former Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin on BBC Radio 5 live

"Villa have hit such bad form that I start to worry that it might be the end. It might not be a bad thing for the players to realise what it's like to be down in the Championship and want to be back up in the Premier League. The thing that hurts me most is that I haven't heard any players come out and say we have been woeful. It's not all down to the manager. Where are the senior players coming and out saying that we will turn this around?"   

Get involved with the debate via Twitter #bbcfootball, external or text us 81111 (UK only and don't forget to include your name and where you're texting from).  

Pat Murphy
BBC Radio 5 live's Midlands football reporter

Image source, AP

"When Micah Richards signed for Villa in June we all thought he would be a good signing. But he obviously wanted to get a few things off his chest in midweek [see 12:27]. When he signed, Villa still had Fabian Delph and Christian Benteke at the club. Perhaps he was making the point that the Aston Villa brochure has changed... 

"Who is going to sign for Aston Villa in January? The players they signed in pre-season are soft, they are not battle-hardened. Anybody can play Fifa 2016 or look at stats, but who at Aston Villa assesses character? Who looks in the whites of players' eyes?"

Graeme Le Saux
Former England defender on Football Focus

"Young players make mistakes, this is a learning curve and a chance for Jack Grealish to take one path or another.

"I played with Frank Lampard at Chelsea when he was a young player. He got in a few scrapes and a few headlines. But he quickly realised that to carry on that path would not help his football career."

Ipswich have taken the lead at Charlton, with one of the goals of the season. In a way.

Daryl Murphy heads home after a spell of extended head tennis. Must have been 10 heads back and forth, Charlton couldn't get it away and Murphy heads home.

Follow that game here.

John, from Manchester: Altrincham v Darlington in the FA cup 3rd round about 10 years ago - the Darlo keeper had a TV remote control thrown at him. Still remains the strangest thing I've seen at a ground. 

Can anyone beat a remote control?

We want to hear the strangest items you have taken/or seen at a match.

Get involved with the debate via Twitter #bbcfootball, external or text us 81111 (UK only and don't forget to include your name and where you're texting from).

Dion Dublin and Neil Lennon are disapproving of Jack Grealish’s decision to go out drinking after a 4-0 loss to Everton.

Pat Murphy
BBC Radio 5 live's Midlands football reporter

Image source, Reuters

"Jack Grealish deserves his punishment, but he's a young lad with plenty of money and he got a few bevvies down him. Is it much of a shock? 

"There is talk about Grealish being sent out on loan, which I think would be ridiculous. He's still the most talented player at the cub. He knows he cocked up last weekend, but he's popular, he banters with the senior players and he's got a good personalty. 

"He was a season ticket holder at the age of six - Villa is in his blood. I think we should cut him a bit of slack. He's not a poster boy for arrogant Premier League bigheads. And he is absolutely vital to Aston Villa."

Aston Villa

Where do we stand on footballers going out enjoying themselves?

Should players be mindful of being out after a bad result? Or are they just people like you and I, entitled to some downtime?

Villa fans - are you pleased that Jack Grealish is being disciplined or not?

If you have a view on the subject let us know. You can tweet us at #, externalbbcfootball, externalor text us on 81111 (UK Only - with your name please)

Dion Dublin
Former Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin on BBC Radio 5 live

"It’s a different era now. The team are having a shocking run, and to go out and have a night out after another defeat is disrespecting your football club, the fans, and the other players. I don’t think any Villa players should be out having a beer until they are winning games.”  

Image source, Getty Images

One player who will not be involved for Aston Villa this afternoon is midfielder Jack Grealish after manager Remi Garde demoted him from the first-team to train with the club's Under-21s.

Garde took the decision following reports that the 20-year-old visited a Manchester nightclub , external after the 4-0 defeat at Everton on Saturday.

"You have to behave as a professional and it was not the case this time for Jack," said Garde.

"He will not play with us, which is already a big punishment for a player. Now we will see the next step."

Ipswich, pushing for a place in the play-off picture, have started brightly at the Valley with Daryl Murphy a typical threat.

He has just headed wide - follow the latest in that game here.

We want to hear the strangest item you have taken to a match...

How about this visitor at Queen of the South...

Anyone else think we should get Dion to do match reports in a Homes-Under-The-Hammer style? Superb.

Would you buy Villa at auction in their current state?

Image source, .

Former Aston Villa striker turned Homes Under the Hammer co-presenter Dion Dublin has been comparing the state of his ex-club to that of a property in need or repair.

“The defence can’t stop springing leaks; it needs some major plumbing repairs”, he told BBC 5 live.

“The midfield is like a kitchen without a gas supply, no one’s cooking up a storm in there.

“Upfront there’s just no electricity, the strikers are short circuiting and need a spark.”

However, Dublin believes all is not lost for the West Midlands side.

“On Homes Under the Hammer I've seen countless properties where all hope seemed to have gone. Anything can be turned around and restored to its former glory.”

The day's early Championship game has kicked off at The Valley.

In the early League One game, it's Barnsley 0-0 Sheffield United after 15 minutes. 

Image source, PA

What's the problem at Aston Villa? Micah Richards believes it's the attitude of some of his team-mates. 

The Midlands outfit are bottom of the Premier League, having scored just 10 goals - the fewest in the top flight so far - and have shipped 24 goals in 13 matches.

"I'm not going to sugarcoat it, we've got too many nice players and we're too easy to play against," the centre-back told The Daily Telegraph. 

"Everybody seems to be - I wouldn't say passing the blame - but they don't want to run that extra mile and take responsibility.

"I'm not big on stats but I think we've run the least in the Premier League - if you're not prepared to run the extra yard for your team mate then obviously you're going to concede chances."