The votes are in! Here are August's Sky Bet Goal of the Month winners...
Ezgjan Alioski: Nottingham Forest 0-2 LEEDS UNITED (26th August 2017)
Leeds United winger Ezgjan Alioski is the Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month winner for August, receiving 63% of the public vote.
Alioski knew exactly what to do when the ball ran loose outside the Forest box. Two quick touches were followed by a rapier-like shot which nestled in the bottom corner.
A pretty decent way to secure three points away from home. 🎯
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) August 28, 2017
Goal of the Weekend goes to @LUFC's Ezgjan Alioski. #GOTW pic.twitter.com/j00U52D9t9
Lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports Pundit Don Goodman said: “What I love about this goal is not only the finish but the fantastic crunching tackle turned assist by Kalvin Phillips, which Leeds fans would have loved almost as much as the goal.
“After that, Alioski’s low, powerful drive into the bottom corner was just too good for the keeper who saw it early enough but was powerless to do anything to stop it, such was its accuracy. It capped a magnificent Man of the Match performance from the Macedonian.”
Alioski said: “I am delighted to receive the award for Goal of the Month, especially as this was my first month in English football.
“However we are a team at Leeds United and scoring the goal would not be possible without the hard work and dedication from my teammates.
“I hope to score many more goals for Leeds, but this goal and this award is very special.”
Alioski beat off competition from Aston Villa’s Andre Green and Nottingham Forest’s Andreas Bouchalakis.
Gino van Kessel: OXFORD UNITED 3-0 Portsmouth (12th August 2017)
Oxford United winger Gino van Kessel is the Sky Bet League One Goal of the Month winner for August, receiving 48% of the public vote.
It was the dazzling speed of mind and foot which made Van Kessel’s debut goal special. He nipped outside one defender then inside another before sweeping home.
Not a bad debut for @OUFCOfficial's @Ginovankessel! 🌪
— Sky Bet League One (@SkyBetLeagueOne) August 14, 2017
The @officialpompey defence didn't get near him as he scored @SkyBetLeagueOne #GOTW. pic.twitter.com/1GSYdCDx0L
Don Goodman said: “What a debut goal this is, there couldn’t possibly be a better way to endear yourself to a new set of supporters.
“The initial pass was behind Van Kessel but he persevered, and with two magnificent touches with the outside of the boot, he’d manipulated a shooting opportunity and applied the finish that his skill had deserved.”
Van Kessel said: “It was my first match after one week [at the club] so the others didn’t know me very well at that moment.
“I expected the ball five or 10 metres in front of me so I could run on and have a one versus one against the goalie, but the ball was a little bit behind me so I missed it on the first touch. I was fast enough to get it back again but there were two defenders from Portsmouth around me.
“I got a touch with the outside of my boot to the inside of the box and it was an easy finish.”
Van Kessel beat off competition from Blackpool’s Sean Longstaff and Scunthorpe United’s Conor Townsend.
Alan McCormack: LUTON TOWN 8-2 Yeovil Town (5th August 2017)
Luton Town midfielder Alan McCormack is the Sky Bet League Two Goal of the Month winner for August, receiving 45% of the public vote.
Standing 30 yards out at a corner, McCormack strode forward to a dropping ball and let fly with an unstoppable dipping half-volley over the crowd of players in front of him.
The pick of the bunch. 👌@LutonTown's Alan McCormack gets the #GOTW nod for @SkyBetLeagueTwo on Matchday 1. pic.twitter.com/KASsIdsIqq
— Sky Bet League Two (@SkyBetLeagueTwo) August 7, 2017
Don Goodman said: “McCormack has got off to a flying start at Luton Town, picking up a string of Man of the Match awards, and scoring this outrageous goal at the start of August.
“He’ll be hoping life in Sky Bet League Two remains as smooth sailing for the rest of the season as he aims to push Luton towards promotion.”
McCormack said: “I remember we were going through a corner routine, but it was actually a corner routine went wrong.
“The lad who was taking it was meant to do something else and the ball came to me completely free at the edge of the box and I remember the ball coming to me.
“My first thought was don’t try and hit it as hard as you can, just try and get a good connection. I just remember looking at it and seeing it going through all of the bodies and into the back of the net.
“It was a nice feeling on the debut, especially with the win that went with it.”
McCormack beat off competition from Lincoln City’s Billy Knott and Newport County’s Frank Nouble.