Brighton's Sebastien Pocognoli, Millwall's Aiden O’Brien and Morecambe's Kevin Ellison are the Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month winners for April 2017.
Sebastien Pocognoli – (Brighton & Hove Albion) v QPR – 7th April
Brighton & Hove Albion left-back Sebastien Pocognoli is the Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month winner for April, receiving 52% of the public vote.
It was the audacity of Pocognoli to curl his free-kick over the wall at pace and in at the near post from the tightest of set-piece angles which made this strike so special.
Lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports Pundit Don Goodman said: “The left back doesn’t score many goals [his last was for Standard Liege in 2010] but that didn’t stop Pocognoli rifling a fierce curling shot in off the post for what turned out to be a vital goal in a really important game as Brighton headed towards automatic promotion.
“He had to wrestle the ball off of Anthony Knockaert, who is usually on free kicks, as he felt he had a good chance on his left foot, and Chris Hughton will have been very happy that he did when the full time whistle blew.”
Pocognoli told the Brighton & Hove Independent: "I had a good feeling before the shot, I don't know why. I went across the pitch to take it and everybody was probably thinking 'what is he doing?'
"But it's my favourite place to shoot from and actually at my past club, I sometimes took free kicks and corners. That is my quality but I haven't practiced a lot this year but I'm happy.
"I just said to Anthony [Knockaert] 'let me shoot' and we have a good relationship, so he said okay. He tried to explain something for me to do quite technically but I told him I didn't understand what he was saying to me, even in French.
"I just said 'please let me take it' and it was a goal and a nice moment."
Pocognoli beat off competition from Preston North End’s Aiden McGeady and Wolverhampton Wanderer’s Heldar Costa.
Aiden O’Brien – (Millwall) v Northampton Town – 14th April
Millwall striker Aiden O’Brien is the Sky Bet League One Goal of the Month winner for April, receiving 48% of the public vote.
With the ball bouncing around, O’Brien seized the moment to play a one-two of headers with Ben Thompson before volleying emphatically into the roof of the net.
Lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports Pundit Don Goodman said: “In a game that could’ve represented a potential banana skin for Millwall on their Play-Off charge, they instead put on a display that the Harlem Globe Trotters would’ve been proud of, completely outplaying Northampton and hosting their own Goal of the Month competition.
“Aiden O’Brien’s sumptuous volley, set up by a great move got the nod for this month’s award but Jed Wallace’s 25-yard strike that arrowed into the top corner was equally worthy of winning the award.”
O’Brien said: "It's always pleasing to get on the scoresheet but for a particular goal to be recognised in this way is extra special.
"It was a great victory for us with two other memorable strikes as well, either of which would have been equally deserving."
O’Brien beat off competition from Peterborough’s Marcus Maddison and Scunthorpe United’s Kevin Van Veen.
Kevin Ellison – (Morecambe) v Exeter City – 22nd April
Morecambe winger Kevin Ellison is the Sky Bet League One Goal of the Month winner for April, receiving 48% of the public vote.
Age is no barrier to talent. Even at 38, Ellison can still time a ball exquisitely as he demonstrated by connecting perfectly with this falling volley to a long angled cross.
Lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports Pundit Don Goodman said: “I’m willing to bet that at even at 38, Kevin Ellison has never scored a better goal than this and never will again.
“The ball came all the way across the area, and dropped perfectly onto Ellison’s left boot as he met the ball with a thunderous volley. We’ll let him off for the booking he picked up for removing his shirt as it was such a great finish.”
Ellison beat off competition from Crawley Town’s James Collins and Exeter City’s Jordan Moore-Taylor.
About the Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month
The winners of the Sky Bet EFL Goals of the Month were chosen after a fan poll on skysports.com.
The shortlist for the poll was decided by a judging panel following suggestions from supporters via Twitter.
The judging panel comprises Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman, Sky Bet Sponsorship Manager David Tweed and EFL Senior Media Manager Rob Meaden.
To suggest a goal to be considered for future Sky Bet Goal of the Month awards, fans can tweet details of their nominated goal to @SkyBet using #SkyBetGotM.