Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic has been named the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for April.
April brought six more unbeaten games and 16 more points as his team continued their relentless pursuit of automatic promotion.
Even in the crucial run-in, Jokanovic has his players expressing themselves with verve, freedom and beguiling fluency.
Jokanovic said: “April was a great month for us. It wasn’t an easy month, facing teams like Millwall who were still fighting for an important target and trying to win full points against Sunderland when they’re playing with no pressure.
“At the end of the month, it’s a great job, huge credit for my players and we’re looking at the next steps immediately ahead of us.
“We’re thinking only about the next challenge, which is getting three points against Birmingham and getting to 91 points for the season.”
George Burley chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel. He said: “Slavisa has had Fulham playing great football which has been wonderful to watch and now they are producing the results their performances deserve.
“They have had a fantastic run of results and are neck-and-neck with Cardiff City for the second promotion spot.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Now on a 23-game unbeaten run, Jokanovic’s Fulham, from quite a way back, have taken Cardiff right down to the wire in the race for the second automatic promotion slot.
“Only a 93rd-minute equaliser for local rivals Brentford robbed him of full points from April’s six games.
“That goal may be the goal that sees them end up in the Play-Offs but if they do, they will be the team the others are hoping to avoid.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Mikey Mumford said: “Fulham had six games to contend with in April but Jokanovic repeatedly got the best from his players despite the demanding schedule.
“The Cottagers nicked three games in the month by the odd goal to keep the pressure on Cardiff in second and the Serb deserves immense credit for taking their automatic promotion challenge right up until the final day.”
The Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel comprises former Ipswich Town manager George Burley, Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman; EFL Marketing Director Drew Barrand, League Managers’ Association Director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet EFL trader Mikey Mumford.