The April nominations for the Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month Award are as follows:
Michael Appleton (Lincoln City)
Has rallied his players superbly after a poor run of March form when it seemed they might fall out of the promotion race. A haul of 13 points from six games restored lost momentum and kept them in sight of the automatic places.
Grant McCann (Hull City)
His side played six games in April, fewer than most of their promotion rivals, but what use of them they made, winning five, drawing one and scoring 14 goals. What mattered most was the 2-1 victory at Lincoln which clinched a return to the Championship.
Leam Richardson (Wigan Athletic)
April began with a defeat, but then burst into life with four successive wins, including a 2-1 triumph over high-flying Sunderland as Richardson led Wigan to 13 points from six games and earned himself the job on a permanent basis.
Mark Robinson (AFC Wimbledon)
After two 1-0 defeats to start April, Robinson put the focus on finishing in training. The diligence paid off as Dons blitzed their way through the next six games, scoring 17 times to pick up 14 points and move out of the bottom four.
The April nominations for the Sky Bet League One Player of the Month Award are as follows:
Dan Ballard (Blackpool) – central defender
The on-loan youngster is a throwback of a defender who relishes a physical battle. He kept the prolific Charlie Wyke quiet as Blackpool gained two vital 1-0 wins over Sunderland with just five goals conceded in Ballard’s seven games.
Sam Long (Oxford United) - full-back
A momentous month for Long as he stormed up and down the right wing, adding zest and urgency to Oxford’s attack. He signed a new contract and scored three of their 18 goals in his six games, including a stoppage time winner against Gillingham.
Josh Magennis (Hull City) - striker
Six goals and an assist for the Northern Irishman who timed the best scoring run of his English club career to perfection as Hull clinched promotion. He showed his versatility, mixing clinical low strikes and powerful headers.
Joe Powell (Burton Albion) - midfielder
Technically gifted, the 24-year-old has finally made himself the fulcrum of Burton’s attacking play. His three goals were all stunners – a 30-yard howitzer at Portsmouth and pinpoint left-foot free-kicks over the wall against Wigan and Fleetwood.