West Brom have been recognised in both the Player and Manager of the Month Awards for September thanks to their EFL Championship table-topping form.
West Brom have been recognised in both the Player and Manager of the Month Awards for September thanks to their Sky Bet EFL Championship table-topping form.
Darren Moore has taken his side to the top after attaining 13 points from a possible 15, with Dwight Gayle among the nominees for Player of the Month too.
Up against Moore is Paul Cook of Wigan, Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder and Daniel Farke of Norwich, who has also seen his team gain 13 out of 15 points.
Dwight Gayle has always been a threat towards Sky Bet Championship defences and his recent haul of five from five says no differently, firing his side to the top of the league in the process.
The lethal talisman is up against other strikers Bradley Dack of Blackburn and Neal Maupay of Brentford, while Norwich’s Teemu Pukki is also up for the award.
The winners of each award will be announced at 0600 BST on Friday 5 October and we will have exclusive video interviews with all the winners - so make sure you come back to Sporting Life on Friday!
Episode Five of Sporting Life's Sky Bet EFL Championship Podcast is out now
Sky Bet EFL Championship September nominees
Manager of the Month
Paul Cook (Wigan Athletic)
Football management can be about opportunity. Cook has had to earn his way to the Championship the hard way, yet he has quickly proved that he and his side belong there. Nine points from five games lifted them into the top half.
Daniel Farke (Norwich City)
The German’s cautious style hasn’t always pleased the Norwich faithful, but a haul of 13 points from a possible 15 in September certainly did. His side demonstrated they have no problems winning close games, with four single-goal victories.
Darren Moore (West Bromwich Albion)
Handing a first-time caretaker-manager the job on a permanent basis can be fraught with danger, but Moore has eased into the role impeccably. His attack-minded side collected 13 points from five games, scored 12 goals and went top.
Chris Wilder (Sheffield United)
When United lost their opening two games, the words ‘sophomore jinx’ were aimed in their direction. Wilder knew differently and led his swashbuckling side to 10 points from five September fixtures and into the play-off places.
Player of the Month
Bradley Dack (Blackburn Rovers)
Injury restricted Dack to four appearances in September, but it failed to limit either his impact or the audacity to show off his technical ability at every turn, no matter where it is on the pitch. Three goals and an assist proved him right.
Dwight Gayle (West Bromwich Albion)
Five goals in five games showcased Gayle’s range as a goalscorer. A magical individual effort and a rapier-like finish against Stoke, calmness against Bristol City, predatory instincts against Millwall and a stunning free-kick at Preston.
Neal Maupay (Brentford)
The Frenchman didn’t miss a beat after returning to the side. Four goals in as many games for the Championship’s leading scorer whose movement, positioning and reactions are proving too clever for opposing defenders to handle.
Teemu Pukki (Norwich City)
Used every part of his anatomy to score in September, toe-poking home against Middlesbrough, then chesting in at QPR. Those were both winners, while the Finn also scored the opener at Reading and won the decisive penalty against Wigan.