The November winners of the Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month Award are...
Sky Bet Championship: Jamal Lowe – Cardiff City v SWANSEA CITY – 12th December
Swansea City striker Jamal Lowe is the Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month winner for December, receiving 38% of the public vote.
Collecting the ball just beyond halfway, tiptoeing forward, skipping inside and then gliding his shot in off the outside of his right boot guaranteed Lowe’s place in south Wales derby folklore.
Lowe said: “I’m delighted to win the December Goal of the Month award. Obviously it came in a big derby and the result and performance was for the fans.
“The goal was one that really pleased me as Korey Smith made a great interception, and Andre Ayew was quickly on the counter attack.
“I just wanted to support him as quickly as I could, and thankfully the ball fell nicely to me and all I could think about was getting in on goal.
“After beating two markers I thought a space opened up for me to curl it into the bottom corner with the outside of my foot, and the ball just nestled into the net nicely.
“I’ve scored nine goals so far this season, and that goal is up there as my favourite Swansea City goal so far, but hopefully there’s plenty more to come.”
Lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports Pundit Don Goodman said: “To score a goal in a big derby game is special but to score in such style and win the game must have left Jamal Lowe feeling ten feet tall.
“The only reason he picks the ball up in the first place is because he is showing desire to sprint forward in support of Ayew who was leading a counter attack.
“As Ayew gets tackled, he’s in position to pick up the pieces just inside the Cardiff half but there is still an awful lot left for him to do to cause damage to Cardiff.
“However, he drives forward with pace, skill, balance and poise. He then displays a huge amount of composure to strike the ball with the outside of his right boot into the corner for an absolutely stunning goal.”
Lowe beat off competition from Cardiff City’s Will Vaulks and Blackburn Rovers’ Joe Rothwell.
Sky Bet League One: Tom Naylor – PORTSMOUTH v Peterborough United – 5th December
Portsmouth midfielder Tom Naylor is the Sky Bet League One Goal of the Month winner for December, receiving 45% of the public vote.
Great goals don’t have to have to be complicated or intricate. Simplicity can be everything as Naylor proved when he timed this rising bullet of a shot into the top corner to perfection.
Naylor said: “I’m delighted to win this award and would like to thank everybody who voted for me in the poll.
“I was really pleased with the strike against Peterborough and hopefully I can provide a few more goals to help the team in the second half of the season.
“More importantly, though, we want to continue our good form and make sure we remain in the fight for promotion.”
Lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports Pundit Don Goodman said: “Naylor is making quite the habit of scoring goals this season, but I’d be very surprised if he manages to strike one better than this in the remainder of the season.
“The lay-off from Andy Cannon was there to be hit first and Naylor duly obliged, rocketing the ball into the top corner, giving the 2,000 Pompey fans that were lucky enough to be there a memory that will stay with them for a long time.”
Naylor beat off competition from Crewe Alexandra’s Owen Dale and Charlton Atheltic’s Marcus Maddison.
Sky Bet League Two: Lee Novak – Grimsby Town v BRADFORD CITY – 22nd December
Bradford City striker Lee Novak is the Sky Bet League Two Goal of the Month winner for December, receiving 71% of the public vote.
With his back to goal and a cross coming towards him torso high, Novak presented little danger until he chested the ball into position and looped an overhead into the far top corner.
Novak said: “It is a huge honour to have received the award and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who voted for me over on Twitter.
“The goal was a really special one and one of the most memorable of my career. It helped us on the way to another important victory - which was the main thing - so was very pleasing.
“A lot of the lads have been giving me stick constantly since it happened, saying it was a fluke. I have never scored a goal like that before in my career, and will probably never do it again!.”
Lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports Pundit Don Goodman said: “It hasn’t been a happy season for Bradford City fans so far and wins had been difficult to come by, but whatever happens between now and the end of the season, this goal will be one that makes them smile.
“It took great imagination to realise, as the deflected cross was heading towards him that there was even a possibility to score but Novak’s chest control allows him to attempt the overhead kick that set the Bantams on their way to their second win in a row. It’s a brilliant goal that he will look back on with pride.”
Novak beat off competition from Colchester United’s Callum Harriott and Newport County’s Scott Twine.