The Player of the Month and Manager of the Month award winners for the Sky Bet Championship, League One and League Two have been announced.
Sky Bet Championship: Chris Wilder (Sheff United) and Che Adams (Birmingham City)
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has been named the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for February.
Faced with a tricky set of February fixtures against Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and West Brom, Wilder and his men swept away all before them with conviction.
A haul of 13 points from a possible 15 and four clean sheets lifted them into the top two.
Wilder said: “It’s been a tough old month, we’ve had some really testing challenges so to come through this month, at the business end of the season, with the points and most importantly performances we are delighted and I accept this award on behalf of the football club, players and staff.
“Defensively we have been solid, apart from obviously the Villa game which was part of the month as well which is quite extraordinary that we have got this award. The biggest moment for me was the reaction to that game, which was a real big test for us from a psychological point of view…how we reacted and the way we have done has been first class.
“We lost some big players during the month and changed the team, the players who have come in have been excellent. They are all in good nick individually and as a team we have been playing well and that obviously gives us the opportunity to win games and pick up awards like this.”
George Burley chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel.
He said: “Eleven goals scored and only three conceded in five demanding matches earned the Blades thirteen points in the month.
“This moved them into an automatic promotion spot and dealt a blow to close rivals WBA and Middlesbrough at a very important time in the season.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “It’s going to take an incredible effort from one of the chasing pack to prevent it from being a three-horse race for the two automatic promotion spots in the Championship, and despite a disappointing goalless draw against their local rivals Sheffield Wednesday, Wilder has manoeuvred United into a fantastic place with eleven games remaining.
“During February, his side were tactically brilliant in beating promotion rivals Middlesbrough and West Brom by a single goal, all the while being defensively sound. Four clean sheets in five games highlighted their defensive solidity.”
Birmingham City striker Che Adams has been named the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for February.
Always a talent, Adams has added consistency, work rate and team play to his game this season.
February’s tally of six goals in five games featured two individual efforts against Blackburn Rovers and a hat-trick at QPR.
Birmingham City manager Garry Monk said: “We’re delighted for Che, it’s thoroughly deserved. He has had a very good season so far and has consistently been a threat for us.
“It comes off the back of hard work. Che appreciates and respects the work that needs to be done for the team and, when that happens, everything else comes: the goals, the assists, helping to get the results.
“And I am sure Che will be first to tell you that his teammates have also played such a big part in the individual success he has enjoyed to date.”
Adams said: “It’s an honour to receive this award, I’m really grateful. I’ve felt good and confident in front of goal and I managed to be clinical during the month.
“But I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without the manager, his staff and the rest of the players.
“We are a really united team at Birmingham, everyone does their bit. We all have a good understanding of what our roles are and I’m benefitting from that, as well as regular game time.”
Sky Bet League One: Jack Ross (Sunderland) and Aiden McGeady (Sunderland)
Sunderland manager Jack Ross has been named the Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month for February.
Ross managed his squad superbly during a hectic February run of five games in 15 days.
Along with the earlier win over AFC Wimbledon, the 12 points they earned from six unbeaten fixtures lifted them back into the automatic promotion picture.
Ross said: “It’s always nice to be nominated. It’s a surprise to receive it because of the record of some of the other people in this league. While it is me who picks it up, it is very much a reflection of all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes and the staff that are involved in that.”
George Burley chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel.
He said: “February was busier for Sunderland than most. Playing six matches, including five in 15 days, and remaining unbeaten took skilful management of resources and the team rewarded Jack by climbing to third in the table with a game in hand over Barnsley, their closest rival.”
Sunderland winger Aiden McGeady has been named the Sky Bet League One Player of the Month for February.
Four goals in six games for the Irishman who continues to treat League One to his skills.
Most impressive is his consistency, spreading the goals over five games, with the highlight a sumptuous free-kick at Bristol Rovers.
Sunderland manager Jack Ross said: “Aiden has been outstanding consistently for a long period of time now and this is the reward of that.
“Players recognise him as a match winner and there’s nothing wrong with that. I have got a lot of players who have different attributes and all contribute to us winning, but Aiden has got that x-factor to make us win games.
“There’s few players who are blessed with that ability and obviously working with him day in day out, I’ve understood just how good he is. He is an immensely talented footballer but you have got to have the attitude, desire and application to back that up and he’s certainly done that this season.”
McGeady said: “It’s good that your efforts are recognised for your good performances and efforts. The main thing is the team has been playing well, though. I was nominated a couple of months back and I think one of the lads from Lincoln got it.
“Personal awards are always nice to have but the team has been doing well and the main objective isn’t that one of us ends us with the Player of the Month or Player of the Season award because we want to get the team promoted.”
Sky Bet League Two: Ryan Lowe (Bury) and Bruno Andrade (Lincoln City)
Bury manager Ryan Lowe has been named the Sky Bet League Two Manager of the Month for February.
The pursuit of leaders Lincoln City continues, with Lowe’s second Manager of the Month award in as many months.
His side took over second place by extending their unbeaten run to 10 games and taking 10 points from a possible 12 - testimony to the consistency of performance he has been able to inspire.
Lowe said: “I’m over the moon to get a hat-trick of Manager of the Month awards for the season, but as I’ve said before, it’s not just me, it’s my staff, my players.
“It’s nice to have them accolades, it’s recognition we’re playing the right way, but ultimately, it’s just another personal accolade, with the big picture at the end of the season. I’d happily trade them all in for where we want to get to.
“The lads are playing well and buying into what we’re trying to do, we know we’ve got a good team, we’ve got an honest group with some talented footballers and when you’re winning games, it’s only natural you win these awards.”
George Burley chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel.
He said: “Another strong performance in February, gaining 10 points from four games, means that Bury have now gone ten games without defeat. They are beginning to look comfortable in the automatic promotion places and won’t let up over the remaining fixtures.
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Bury have been one of the standout attacking teams not only in the EFL, but across English football this season
“Nicky Maynard and Jay O’Shea continue to provide bundles of goals, and Lowe’s ability to keep the focus week in, week out means that Bury fans dreams of promotion are becoming more real by the week.”
Lincoln City winger Bruno Andrade has been named the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month for February.
Andrade has always had the ability to play wide or in the centre of midfield. Goals haven’t always been his forte, but they were in February. He scored six of Lincoln’s seven goals, showing off his technique, timing and tenacity.
Lincoln City manager Danny Cowley said: “Bruno worked really hard, doing extra training following the disappointment of his suspension and has done really well, he showed he has the individual brilliance to be the difference in some tight games.
“He’s had a brilliant run since he came back from being out of the team and you have to give him credit to him for that. From our point of view, one of the most rewarding parts of our job is to see someone working so hard and then reaping the rewards they deserve.”
Andrade said: "I'm very proud, especially after the month I’d just had obviously with the red card and that was the point I had to get my head down and come back fighting.
"I had something similar at Boreham Wood when I had (scored) five in five, but this one means a little more as it’s higher up and the stakes are higher as well. But I think that it’s probably the best month I’ve ever had.
"I feel like every game is important, everything we do is magnified now, we picked up a lot of draws in games that we should have seen out.
"On a personal level I think I need to keep going, there’s no point having one good game and putting your feet up and thinking 'I had a good game last week and I can relax now’ that’s not my mentality.
"My mentality is that I have to keep going week after week and just help the team out. We know what we need to do now to achieve what we want to."
- The Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel comprises former Ipswich Town manager George Burley, Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman; EFL Communications Director Mark Rowan, League Managers’ Association Director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies.