Thursday 12 January 2017 18:43, UK
Fulham’s Tom Cairney has won the Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month award for December for his volley in the 4-4 draw against Wolves.
The midfielder fired home from the edge of the box after Stefan Johansen picked him out with a free-kick from the left.
He beat off competition from Burton Albion’s Jamie Ward and Bristol City’s Luke Freeman to win the prize.
“It was a great moment and a great goal,” he said. “The best I’ve scored in my career, and to have won this award, I’m happy and hopefully I can score another one soon!”
Lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman said: “What can you really say when you see a goal like that? It’s a remarkable strike, clean as a whistle and a real thing of beauty.
“The most impressive thing is that technically, it is a very difficult volley to pull off, but Cairney strikes it to perfection.”
The League One Goal of the Month award went to Sammy Ameobi after his strike for Bolton against Gillingham.
Picking the ball up in midfield, Ameobi strode forward, then stepped inside on the edge of the box and fired a shot into the far corner.
Ameobi, now back at parent club Newcastle, said: “It’s a great honour to receive the League One Goal of the Month award and I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who voted for me.
“I enjoyed it at Bolton and this goal is certainly one of the memorable moments which sticks out when I look back at my recent time there.
“I just remember picking the ball up on the right and things seemed to open up for me as I began to cut inside along the edge of the area. I was able to hit it sweetly with my left foot and it was a great feeling to see it fly into the top corner to wrap up what was a great win for us at home.”
Stevenage defender Fraser Franks won the award in League Two after his volleyed effort against Doncaster.
Franks controlled a pass from Michael Tonge and then finished at the near post.
“Brilliant movement, brilliant control on the thigh and a brilliant volley at the end of it, this goal had the lot,” said Goodman.
“Franks isn’t a prolific scorer, with this only his second league goal this season, but it’s sure to be one he remembers for a long time.”
