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Monthly Awards

Goal of the Month: January

16 February 2018

The January winners of the Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month Award are:

James Maddison: Norwich City v Brentford – 27th January

Norwich City midfielder James Maddison is the Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month winner for January receiving 51% of the public vote.

This was a second award this season for a player who connects with the ball so cleanly. After neatly slipping a tackle, Maddison’s searing right-foot effort dived into the bottom corner in a hurry.

Lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports Pundit Don Goodman said: “James Maddison has blossomed this season into one of the most talked-about, exciting prospects in the EFL and with goals like this it’s not hard to see why.

“After a particularly messy phase of play, Maddison’s classy touch, nutmeg and shot stand out even more, such is the beauty in its simplicity.”

Maddison said: “It’s another special goal to add to the collection of mine this season, and it was a match-winning goal again like the one in September, which makes it even better. To get the three points, scoring the winning goal, away from home – I’m delighted.

“To be fair I think the Brentford goal was better because of the nutmeg before it and the finish, it was just something that I’ve done in training a lot, so to put it into a game and show everyone what I can do is brilliant.”

Maddison beat off competition from Ipswich Town’s Bersant Celina and Millwall’s Steve Morison.

Ellis Harrison: Bristol Rovers v Doncaster Rovers – 27th January

Bristol Rovers striker Ellis Harrison is the Sky Bet League One Goal of the Month winner for January, receiving 43% of the public vote.

With his side under late pressure, Harrison delved into his reserves of energy to sprint 60 yards with the ball, leaving defenders in his wake, then driving his shot into the far corner.

Lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports Pundit Don Goodman said: “It’s one thing to be left clean through on goal in your own half, but turning that opportunity into a goal isn’t as easy as Ellis Harrison made it look.

“The goal added the gloss on a good away victory for Darrell Clarke’s Rovers side, as Rory Gaffney was able to return the favour to Harrison who set him up for their second.”

Harrison said: “We were defending deep, so I picked it up and looked for Gaffs [Rory Gaffney] a couple of times, but it just opened up and I got a shooting opportunity. I missed the week before against Bradford so I had to redeem myself.

“I’m enjoying my football, playing every week so if I can chip in with the goals, that’s great.”

Harrison beat off competition from Blackburn Rovers’ Richie Smallwood and Oxford United’s Alex Mowatt.

Maxime Biamou: Coventry City v Swindon Town – 20th January

Coventry City striker Maxime Biamou is the Sky Bet League Two Goal of the Month winner for January, receiving 48% of the public vote.

The timing, accuracy and ferocity with which Biamou lashed in a 20-yard shot on the bounce, after his own headed flick-on, made this a worthy first league goal in England.

Lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports Pundit Don Goodman said: “When the ball dropped outside the area, Biamou only had one thought in his mind, the strike was clean and perfectly directed into the top corner.

“Coventry’s resurgent promotion charge has stuttered, as the FA Cup tie against Brighton approaches, so they’ll need all of their strikers to be firing on all cylinders when the League returns.”

Biamou said: “I’m very happy to win the award, it’s probably the best goal I’ve scored and I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me.

“When I saw the ball drop it was like a bomb so I wanted to say to my team-mates in front of the ball ‘leave it, I’m going to shoot’.

“Jordan [Shipley] saw my face and it was like I wanted to put all of my pain in this shot, so I’m very happy to score a fantastic goal.”

Biamou beat off competition from Forest Green Rovers’ Dayle Grubb and Accrington Stanley’s Sean McConville.

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 Executive Michael Holinski 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.


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