The October nominations for the Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month Award are:
Matt Bloomfield (Wycombe Wanderers)
Even more impressive than the 12 goals and 13 points Wycombe managed in five unbeaten games to surge into the top two was Bloomfield’s management of his squad, with five of the goals being scored by players he brought on in games.
Nigel Clough (Mansfield Town)
Clough continues to reinforce the positive impression that newcomers Mansfield have made on Sky Bet League One, leading them to ten points from five games in which their determination and resilience matched their play on the ball.
Garry Monk (Cambridge United)
Retaining faith in your players and their trust in you is not easy when you have gained just one point from nine games, but three successive wins to end October says everything about Monk’s pragmatism and ability to cope with injuries.
Ruben Selles (Reading)
Selles has re-connected the Reading team and supporters, utilising academy players to fill gaps in a thin squad and mixing pragmatism with a fluid style to entertaining effect. Four wins came from six games which contained 21 goals.
The October nominations for the Sky Bet League One Player of the Month Award are:
Ryan Barnett (Wrexham) - wing-back
Barnett’s surging runs down the right and lack of fear in taking on defenders, allied to intelligently delivered pinpoint crosses, helped to set up five of Wrexham’s seven October goals. He also contributed defensively to two clean sheets.
Matty Pearson (Huddersfield Town) - central defender
Pearson has reclaimed his Huddersfield starting place with typical determination, using his strength and experience to preserve three clean sheets in five games and the drive to force home opening goals from corners against Bristol Rovers and Exeter.
Kwame Poku (Peterborough United) - winger
Poku could have sat back after winning September’s award. Instead, he made it his mission to impact games from the wing on a consistent basis with seven goal involvements in six games, His two goals included a last-gasp winner against Stevenage.
Willum Willumsson (Birmingham City) - attacking midfielder
Largely unknown upon his arrival, the Icelander has become a key man in Birmingham’s promotion push with a silky touch belying his 6ft 4in frame, an intelligence to find time and space, and the calmness to add two goals and an assist.