Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock has been named the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for March.
Pressure, what pressure? Promotion looms closer after a perfect month against teams beginning with ‘B’ – Barnsley, Birmingham, Brentford and Burton.
Judging by Cardiff’s 11-5 goal differential in four games, Warnock has his players enjoying themselves.
Warnock said: “We’ve just had a great season, haven’t we? Whatever happens now, even if we didn’t get another point, we’ve had a fabulous season and I couldn’t fault the lads for the effort they’re putting in.
“For us to be up there is a bit of a miracle really and I’m right proud of them. In every area, the togetherness is there, the camaraderie has come through in our results.
“I feel very proud because I don’t think anyone will mind me saying the club was in a bit of disarray when we came in, both on and off the field.
“But putting it all together and getting bums back on the seats at the same time as a side that are winning games I think is very special.
“I think if you’re a Cardiff fan now, you walk about in town and you’re proud to be a Cardiff fan and you want to come and cheer your team on and I think that’s great. As a manager, I want them to get behind us and the players as well.”
George Burley chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel. He said: “March was another great month for Cardiff City, winning all of their four games.
“Neil has a tremendous record of getting teams promoted and Cardiff now look odds-on for automatic promotion to the Premier League.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Back-to-back awards at this stage of the season suggest a team who are hitting their peak at just the right time, with Cardiff finding a way to win time and time again.
“Despite Neil’s insistence that they’ll take whatever they can get this season, having got Cardiff into a box seat for automatic promotion, he’ll be determined to complete an incredible job and restore Cardiff’s place in the Premier League.
“It could be argued, should he achieve it that this will be his most outstanding promotion ever!”
Sky Bet EFL trader Mikey Mumford said: “Neil’s award for March brings up a hat-trick of Manager of the Month awards this term but perhaps this one might just top the pile.
“His Cardiff side recorded a perfect month with four victories, which extended their winning run in the Championship to eight games and more importantly consolidated their place in the automatic places.
“Cardiff’s come-from-behind win over Brentford was a particular highlight and Warnock’s side are keeping Wolves honest at the top too.”