The winners of the Sky Bet EFL Manager of the Month Awards for October are:
Sky Bet Championship: Vincent Kompany (Burnley)
Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has been named the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for October.
If October began with Kompany’s flowing side continuing to concede late equalisers, it ended with deserved injury-time winners and two comeback wins as they amassed 18 points from eight unbeaten games and moved top of the Championship.
Kompany said: "I'm delighted to win this award, up against some great managers.
"I would like to thank all the players and my staff; the coaches, physios, sports science, analysts, kit men, groundsmen, chefs and everyone else who played a part in achieving this award.
"It was a good month for us, but the hard work continues."
Danny Wilson chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel.
He said: “With an unbeaten run throughout October, Burnley moved to the top of the Championship collecting 18 points from their eight games.
“Whilst playing an open and very attractive style, Vincent has also instilled a work ethic to match.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “It may have taken a little while for results to consistently match Burnley’s performances, but things clicked for the Clarets in October.
“Over eight games, Burnley deservedly went unbeaten and picked up 18 vital points, with Kompany’s free-flowing philosophy finally reaping the points that most of the performances have deserved.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “Burnley are riding high at the top of the Championship table under Vincent Kompany.
“After losing several key players during the summer, Burnley were seventh-favourites at 14/1 for the title and a 7/2 chance to be promoted straight back to the Premier League.
“But Kompany has got the Lancashire outfit playing an open, attacking brand of football and his side are the division’s highest scorers.
“The Clarets now the 11/8 favourites to finish the season as Champions and a 2/5 chance for promotion.”
Sky Bet League One: Steven Schumacher (Plymouth Argyle)
Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher has been named the Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month for October.
There is a symbiotic serenity about Schumacher’s fit with his Argyle side. He has a happy squad, players giving their all for each other and emerging with a result every time, as 19 points and 18 goals from seven unbeaten games prove.
Schumacher said: “I am delighted to win the Manager of the Month award for the second month in a row.
“We have had a brilliant start to the season, and for us to be sitting at the top of the table in an incredibly competitive Sky Bet League One just shows how well everyone connected to Plymouth Argyle is doing at the moment.
“We will continue to work as hard as we possibly can to keep getting results, and hopefully be in contention to win some more of these awards in the future.
“A big thank you once again to all of the players and coaching staff for their hard work in October and a special mention to our fans whose support has been incredible!”
Danny Wilson chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel.
He said: “Consistency is key for any team wanting to be successful and Argyle are certainly that.
“19 points from their seven games, combined with 18 goals scored - Steven has really got a very confident squad.
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “You can’t keep Steven Schumacher’s name off this award, and he’ll have a few more on his mantelpiece by the end of the season if Plymouth continue to be so impressive.
“Argyle are a joy to watch and so hard to get the better of, as evidenced by a completely unbeaten month of October.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “Schumacher’s side had an unbeaten league record of six wins and a draw during October, culminating in a thrilling 4-2 victory in the Devon derby live on Sky Sports.
“At 5/1 to win League One going into the month, the table topping Pilgrims pulled four points clear of second placed Ipswich in October and are now 4/1 with Sky Bet to finish the season as Champions.
“Since Schumacher took charge less than a year ago, Plymouth have continued to punch above their weight and have picked up a hugely impressive 85 points from 43 league games with 26 wins and only 10 defeats.”
Sky Bet League Two: Michael Flynn (Walsall)
Walsall manager Michael Flynn has been named the Sky Bet League Two Manager of the Month for October.
Any Walsall fans worried by a winless September and a mounting injury list had those doubts swept away as Flynn guided his side to 14 points from seven games, which included winning all four home fixtures by an 8-2 aggregate.
Flynn said: “I’m delighted to have won the award. I want to thank all of my staff, it’s a real team effort from Mandy the chef, the groundsman, Trivela, Leigh Pomlett and the fans.
“A special thank you to Wayne Hatswell who has been by my side for every one of the Manager of the Month awards I’ve won.
“After a bad September where I do feel we were playing some decent football, we just didn’t get the results we deserved but I believe in the players and it’s down to them that we’ve won Manager of the Month.”
Danny Wilson chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel.
He said: “14 points from seven games has lifted Mike and his Walsall team within touching distance of the Play-Off positions, adding to the feel good factor. To win all four home games is always a boost for the faithful supporters.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Mike Flynn worked wonders for his side in October, turning a poor run of form on its head as they began to head in the right direction at again at last.
“Averaging two points per game is a pretty good return in the EFL, and that’s the level Flynn’s Saddlers were at last month.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “Any Walsall fans that were worried about a winless September and a growing injury list had those doubts cast aside during October as Michael Flynn guided his team to fourteen points from seven league games, including winning all four home games at the Bescot.
“Going into the month sat just three points above the drop zone, and an 11/1 chance for relegation, after the Saddlers brilliant October, they now sit comfortably in mid-table and as big as 40/1 for the drop.
“They may even take a look up the table and are now just 3/1 to make the top 7.”
The winners of the Sky Bet EFL Player of the Month Awards for October are:
Sky Bet Championship: Jerry Yates (Blackpool)
Blackpool striker Jerry Yates has been named the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for October.
An October for the ages for Yates owed much to his clever positioning. There were three braces among his seven goals and an assist in seven games, which included four predatory headers, two volleys and a jinking solo run against Watford.
Blackpool Manager Michael Appleton said: “It’s a fantastic achievement for Jerry, not just for his goals in October but for his performances overall. He’s got the reward for that and been recognised for those performances.
“He’ll be keen to carry on that goalscoring form now, having already beaten his tally from last season. He’s full of life, he’s energetic and he takes those attributes onto the pitch with him. The one thing I’ve wanted him to do is show that key bit of composure at the right moment, and he’s done that so far this season.”
Yates said: “It’s a nice feeling to win this award. This is the first one I’ve won, and I appreciate the panel voting for me.
“October was a bit surreal for me. I don’t think I’ve previously scored seven goals in a month during my career.
“Without my team-mates, I don’t think I’d have scored any of them. They play a major part in it, and I thank them every day. We have a great bunch of lads here who work hard for each other, and we just want to kick on again now and do our very best for the fans.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Jerry Yates has been a talisman for the Tangerines for some time now and he was loving life in front of goal in October, averaging one per game during a fantastic seven-match spell.
“A brilliant solo effort against Watford was the highlight, and there’ll be plenty more where that came from if he can take this form and confidence into the rest of the season.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “Jerry Yates was back firing on all cylinders again during October.
“It’s a remarkable turnaround for a player who had only managed to find the back of the net three times in his last 31 games prior to this run.
“Yates now jointly tops the Sky Bet Championship top goalscorer charts with nine (alongside Iliman Ndiaye of Sheffield United) and is now 16/1 from 66/1 at the start of the month to finish the season as the Championship’s top marksman.”
Sky Bet League One: Aaron Collins (Bristol Rovers)
Bristol Rovers striker Aaron Colins has been named the Sky Bet League One Player of the Month for October.
The dynamic striker is having a stellar season. Three goals and three assists were his official tally, but his driven finishes and superb crosses were supplemented by countless runs off the ball and a goal-creating dummy at Sheffield Wednesday.
Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton said: “I’m delighted for Aaron. I think his form in the calendar year has been exceptional.
“He’s been a real talisman for the group; obviously life in League One is relatively new for him but he’s hit the ground running.
“In terms of goal involvements, he sits up there with some of the best players in the division, so he deservedly takes home that accolade.”
Collins said: “I’m happy to win it after being nominated in August with the same amount of goal involvements. It could’ve been four assists, but it obviously wasn’t to be.
“But like I said, it’s been a really good month as a team, as well as individually, so I’m happy and hopefully I can add to that goal and assists tally in the coming months!”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Bristol Rovers picked up some important points last month and Aaron Collins was very much at the heart of their resistance.
“The striker continued his terrific form this season with a trio of strikes and as many assists, but his off-the-ball play was just as vital for Joey Barton’s side.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “Aaron Collins has enjoyed an impressive rise for Bristol Rovers since joining the club last summer and his good form has even seen him touted as a surprise call up for the Welsh National team for the World Cup in Qatar.
“He didn’t do his chances any harm during October with another three goals and three assists taking him to nine goals and six assists in seventeen League One matches so far this season.
“This left him in second place in the top goalscorer charts only two behind Jonson Clarke-Harris and into 12/1 from 25/1 at the start of the month to win the League One Golden Boot.
“Collins’ spearheaded Rovers promotion push last season and Gas fans will be hoping he can kick on again and help them push away from the bottom half of the table.”
Sky Bet League Two: Paddy Madden (Stockport County)
Stockport County striker Paddy Madden has been named the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month for October.
With his work rate and determined harrying of defenders, Madden gives Stockport more than just goals, but his poacher’s knack is priceless. He contributed either a goal (five in total) or an assist in every one of County’s six games.
Stockport manager Dave Challinor said: “Delighted for Paddy to have won this award. It’s a reflection not just of his own good form in recent weeks, but the performance and form of the team as a whole as we’ve really started to find our feet at this level.
“Everybody will rightly look at the amount of goals and assists, and he’s been outstanding in that regard, but he offers us so much more than that in terms of his work rate and pressing off the ball – as our Captain, he is a real leader for us and sets the tone for the rest of the team.”
Madden said: “I’m delighted to be able to win the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month award. It’s always nice to receive individual praise but a big well done has to go to all my teammates and the staff at the Club.
“Without their great performances over the last month, winning an award like this wouldn’t have been possible so I just want to say a big thank you to them.
“Obviously the focus now is on keeping this run that we’re on going, making sure we have a good November and keep pushing up the league table.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Goals output and production from your strikers is worth its weight in gold in the EFL and Stockport’s Paddy Madden delivered with aplomb in October.
“During a six-game run, the frontman notched five goals for his side and even chipped in an assist, emphasising his importance to the Hatters at an important time of the season.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “Stockport striker Paddy Madden has played a big part in turning County’s form around in recent weeks with five goals and an assist in as many games during October to help put a difficult start to the season behind them.
“Big things were expected of Stockport as they went off 6/1 favourites to win Sky Bet League Two despite it being their first season back in the fourth tier, with Madden also installed as 8/1 favourite for the Golden Boot.
“The Irishman currently sits in twelfth place in the scorer charts, six off the early pace and out to 33/1 for the Golden Boot, but he will be looking to continue to improve having kickstarted his season.”