The winners of the Sky Bet Championship Manager and Player of the Month Awards for January are:
Manager: Sabri Lamouchi (Nottingham Forest)
Nottingham Forest manager Sabri Lamouchi has been named the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for January.
The constancy of Lamouci’s message gave his players the confidence to come through an awful run at the end of 2019 and emerge refreshed in January, collecting 11 points from five unbeaten games and climbing into third place.
Danny Wilson chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel.
He said: “After a difficult December, Sabri has turned Forest’s form upside down and cemented their place as a genuine promotion challenger.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Following a bleak December spell that threatened to derail Forest’s season, Sabri Lamouchi’s persistence paid off in a big way as we entered the New Year.
“The promotion contenders finished a seven-game unbeaten run in fine style at the end of January, seeing off fellow high-flyers Brentford at Griffin Park, keeping them right on the tail of Leeds, West Brom and the holy grail of automatic promotion.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “Sabri Lamouchi has quietly been going about his work at Nottingham Forest and his side are well-placed in fourth in the Sky Bet Championship just four points off the top two.
“It was another productive month for Forest as they went undefeated and claimed an impressive away win at fellow promotion chasing Brentford.
“It’s been over 20 years since they were last in the big time and odds are currently 100/30 that the Lamouchi’s men are promoted this season, from 8/1 at the start of the month.”
Player: Nahki Wells (Queens Park Rangers / Bristol City)
Bristol City striker Nahki Wells has been named the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for January.
Despite a move which limited him to just three January games, Nahki Wells was head and shoulders above the rest in the Sky Bet Championship last month.
He contributed five goals - including a hat-trick against Cardiff - and a delightful assist.
Bristol City manager Lee Johnson said: “I’m pleased for Nahki. He had a great first half of the season while he was at QPR and his performances last month merited this award. We hope he continues that good form in a Bristol City shirt.”
Wells said: “It’s my first player of the month award in the Championship and I’m very honoured. I’d like to thank the QPR management and players for helping me achieve this and I’m now looking forward to the next stage of the season with Bristol City.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Ultimately, strikers are judged on their record in front of goal, and Nahki Wells’ January figures could hardly have been more impressive.
“The former Huddersfield and Bradford man struck five times in three games for QPR, including a tremendous New Year’s Day hat-trick in front of the Loftus Road faithful.
“Naturally, his fine form attracted attention and a move to Bristol City followed. It will be interesting to see whether Wells’ form follows him to Ashton Gate.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “Wells added three goals to take his tally to 13 for the season before his deadline day move to Bristol City, an excellent effort considering he didn’t know where his future would lie.
“The former Huddersfield Town man will now be hoping he can continue that scoring form and keep his new club in the Play-Off picture.
“They are currently in sixth place and an 11/1 chance for promotion.
“Wells is currently six goals behind joint-leaders Wakins and Mitrovic in the top scorer charts and we make him a 20/1 shot to finish the season as top scorer.”