The winners of the Sky Bet League Two Manager and Player of the Month Awards for January are:
Manager: Ryan Lowe (Plymouth Argyle)
Plymouth Argyle manager Ryan Lowe has been named the Sky Bet League Two Manager of the Month for February.
With the new main stand now open and Home Park packed once more, Lowe has timed his side’s rise towards the top three to perfection.
Playing football to match his ambition, they collected 13 points and scored 14 goals in six games.
Lowe said: “It is always nice to receive a Manager of the Month award; it shows the good work you are doing. A lot of credit goes to my staff and my players, first and foremost.
“I said that, when I came down here, I would make this a group and a family club. We certainly have that now. All the staff behind the scenes are helping us achieve success on the pitch.”
Danny Wilson chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel.
He said: “Three great away victories helped Ryan and his Argyle team amass a 14 point return in January.
“Given the games in hand Plymouth have on their immediate rivals, the Green Army are full of hope of an immediate return to Sky Bet League One in May.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Plymouth took a direct route to the top three during what can only be described as an excellent January for the club.
“Ryan Lowe has his troops all singing from the same hymn sheet, and it paid dividends in the form of 13 valuable points.
“The sky really is the limit for Argyle now, and the brand of football they are playing has put the club in prime position for a serious promotion tilt.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “Ryan Lowe’s Plymouth team were the form team during the first month of the year in Sky Bet League Two.
“The month started with defeat against Swindon, but Argyle then went undefeated to propel them into the automatic promotion places.
“They’re now 1/3 for promotion, after drifting to 11/8 after the Swindon defeat.
“Sky Bet’s underlying stats on Plymouth put them as the second best team in League Two, behind Crewe, and they’re real contenders for the title at 5/2 joint second favourites along with the Railwaymen, in from 12/1 after that defeat in the first game in January.”
Player: Luke Jephcott (Plymouth Argyle)
Plymouth Argyle striker Luke Jephcott has been named the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month for January.
Five goals from four starts for the 20-year-old forward after his recall from non-league Truro City. His timing was perfect as Argyle needed someone steady in front of goal to fire them towards the automatic promotion places.
Jephcott said: “I am going to use this as a stepping stone to really kick on in the second half of the season, hopefully get a couple more goals, and ultimately get promotion.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “From non-league hotshot to League Two goal-getter in no time at all, Luke Jephcott certainly made the most of his loan recall during January.
“The 20-year-old could only have dreamt his return to Argyle would be so impactful both personally and for his team.
“He bagged twice against Scunthorpe, before doubling up the following week on the road at Carlisle.
“By the end of the month, Jephcott had five goals in four games, cementing himself as a focal point of Ryan Lowe’s attack.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “After being recalled from his loan spell at Truro City, the 20 year old Welsh striker scored five goals in six games to help Plymouth into the last of the three automatic promotion places In Sky Bet League Two. The Pilgrims are now as short as 1/3 for promotion.”