Stoke have had seven penalties in the Championship this season - and have only converted two of them!

Sam Vokes was the guilty party today, Hull goalkeeper David Marshall denying him an equaliser.

• Good news for leaders Luton who lead 1-0 at Shrewsbury courtesy of yet another James Collins goal.
• Second-placed Portsmouth are behind again, this time trailing Doncaster 1-0 at home at the break.
• Barnsley's good form continuing as they lead Scunthorpe 2-0 at home.
• At Roots Hall Simon Cox has continued his fine form, pulling a goal back for Southend at Bristol Rovers where it is 2-1. He has now been involved in seven of their past 13 goals.

• Exeter are 2-0 up against MK Dons, who have former long-serving Grecians boss Paul Tisdale in the dugout. It has not been a great return for the dapper chap.
• Callum Evans has equalised for Sol Campbell's lowly Macclesfield at high-flying Mansfield.
• Bruno Andrade restored parity for leaders Lincoln City at Notts County in the fourth minute of first-half injury time.
• Grimsby are up against Newport, Colchester lead at Northampton, and it is goalless in Bury v Crawley and Stevenage v Yeovil.

Tony Husband
Final Score reporter at Madejski Stadium

Reading finished the first half strongly and it’s hard to see how neither side has scored after an entertaining first 45.

Both keepers have made sharp saves, Nelson Olivera providing more thrust for the relegation strugglers, Tammy Abraham squandered a great chance for his 20th of the season earlier on in the half for Villa.

Image source, Dan Westwell

• George Saville's goal had Middlesbrough in front at fellow promotion chasers West Brom, but Jay Rodriguez equalised before half-time for the Baggies.
• Steve Bruce's Sheffield Wednesday remain goalless at bottom club Ipswich.
• Blackburn are 2-1 up at Brentford, having led 2-0 after seven minutes at Griffin Park.
• Hull lead 1-0 against Stoke, for whom debutant Sam Vokes has had a penalty saved.
• Wigan and Birmingham lead at home, while the other matches in the second tier are goalless.

Half-time whistles blowing across the EFL amid a flurry of goals late in the first halves there.

Stay tuned for the headlines so far....

Stoke get the chance to equalise from the spot immediately as Sam Vokes is fouled in the box... but David Marshall saves from the former Burnley striker!

Image source, Rex Features

Just on the stroke of half-time, Nelson Oliveira takes aim from range for Reading and forces Lovre Kalinic into an acrobatic save towards his right.

Decent finish to the first half from the hosts.

At the top of League One, James Collins put Luton 1-0 up against Shrewsbury after 39 minutes.

Now to come at you with a remarkable stat, Luton are unbeaten in 66 matches in which they have taken the lead.

Elsewhere, goals from Liam Sercombe and Gavin Reilly have put Bristol Rovers 2-1 up at Southend.

In League Two, Colchester are 1-0 up at Northampton - a side that hasn't been beaten in their past 11 games at home.

Bristol City counter at pace following a Swansea corner, with Andi Weimann, Jay Dasilva, Jamie Paterson and Josh Brownhill all involved, but the latter's shot hits Swansea keeper Erwin Mulder and drops the wrong side of the post.

A week ago Millwall were knocking Premier League Everton out of the FA Cup.

Today, they're struggling to find a way past fellow Championship strugglers Rotherham.

Ben Marshall has just headed a Millwall corner over the crossbar.

Big chance for Wednesday that they somehow miss.

A high, loose ball is played across goal by Morgan Fox and it looks like Adam Reach is set to score from six yards, but he fires it over.

Almost immediately - Liam Palmer gets down the right and puts a good ball into the middle, Fernando Forestieri heads over the bar as the Owls continue to apply pressure.

Another escape for Ipswich who have created next to nothing so far.

Frank Fielding again to the rescue in Bristol City's goal.

Declan John with space on the left once again cut back for Nathan Dyer in the box, but the winger's shot was saved by Fielding.

Image source, Rex Features

Doncaster's Mallik Wilks has compounded Portsmouth woes in League One.

Pompey, who started the day second in the table, have lost their last three league games.

They last lost more in succession back in February 2013.

Jorge Grant's goal for Mansfield against Macclesfield could be an important one.

If things remain as they are in League Two, with leaders Lincoln City 1-0 down against bottom side Notts County, the Stags would move to within a point of the summit.

Of course, there is a long way to go. But it is tasty at the top of the fourth division.

In League One, Alex Mowatt's goal has put high-flying Barnsley 1-0 up against Scunthorpe.

Not much to report from the KCOM Stadium, where Stoke have given debuts to new signings Danny Batth and Sam Vokes.

Former Burnley striker Vokes hasn't had a meaningful sight of goal yet.

Villa go close again but Tommy Elphick's glancing header from a corner skims off the top of the crossbar.

Close from the man who spent some time on loan at Reading last season.

Image source, Getty Images

Boro still with the lead through George Saville but West Brom had a chance before that from Gareth Barry.

Little else to mention though from Darren Moore's men in this one in terms of finding a leveller.