Friday 9 February 2018 11:46, UK
Aston Villa head coach Steve Bruce has been named the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for January.
Never one to worry about the doubters, Bruce's tactical nous and organisational skills helped Villa land a maximum 12-point haul from four games and move up to third in the Championship, conceding just a single goal in the process.
Aston Villa assistant manager Colin Calderwood, who picked up the award on Bruce's behalf, said: "We've had some tough games in Bristol City and Sheffield United, teams in around us, and the importance of those games brought us to a new level of performance.
"We had difficult moments in those two games especially but we ended up coming out with positive results and I think it's that type of thing that helps get runs going. Our performance level has been good but the quality of our goals has been excellent. "
Fulham winger Ryan Sessegnon has been named the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for January. Flitting between left-back and the left side of midfield, sometimes in the same match, is no problem for the precocious 17-year-old.
Sessegnon said: "It's a great feeling to be named the Championship Player of the Month but I think it's credit to the team and the way we've all been playing in January, which has allowed me to get this award. It's an amazing feeling.
"It's been down to the gaffer playing me in a higher position allowing me to play further forward and scoring more and creating more goals. At this minute, I'm liking my role further up the pitch with the ability to contribute goals and assists."
Manager: Steve Lovell, Gillingham
Gillingham were 23rd when Lovell took charge in October. A maximum 12 points from 12 in January, which included comeback wins against Rochdale and Fleetwood and victories at high-flying Charlton and Scunthorpe, lifted the Gills up to 10th.
Lovell said: "We didn't have the best start to the season, and work had to be done but we just managed to get the players working hard together as a unit and fortunately enough it turned and we've had a decent run since then.
"It's hard to put a finger on what has been behind the turnaround, it's just playing players in positions where they could be the best for the team and for the football club and getting a mutual respect with them. They're a really good bunch of players, they've worked hard and they are still doing that now."
Player: John-Joe O'Toole, Northampton
A niggling groin injury caused O'Toole to miss 24 games this season and Northampton won just two of them. With him in the team, they have won seven of 13. Arriving late in the box, he scored a goal in four successive games, including a lovely glancing header at Blackburn.
O'Toole said: "It feels great to be recognised for this award. We've picked up in terms of results in recent weeks so that's been great - apart from Saturday which was a bit of a kick in the teeth, so we need to get back to it, but we're heading in the right direction.
"It's been a bit of a difficult season for me personally injury-wise, and even when I got back in September/October it was frustrating being in and out of the team, but I've managed to get a run of games recently and managed to get on the end of a few which is nice but I want to get a few more now."
Manager: Gareth Ainsworth, Wycombe
There were four games, four victories and 11 goals in January, including a thrilling 3-2 win at leaders Luton, as Wycombe rose to second in the table.
Ainsworth said: "This award is for the boys really. The manager picks the team and they go out there, but once they cross that white line; they do the job, so I'm really proud of the boys, we're on a good run at the moment and I couldn't do it without them.
"I think being the player that I was, a forward player, an attacking winger, I try to manage as I played, no holds barred attacking formations, getting at teams.
"We sacrifice the odd goal at the back for that, but scoring goals is what people want to see, it's the way to win games and we addressed that a couple of years ago and I'm glad to say it's been paying off in droves for the last two seasons."
Player: Marc McNulty, Coventry
McNulty maintained his rich scoring streak with another four goals in January, this time in four games as Coventry continued to climb the table.
McNulty said: "It's the first time I've picked up one of these awards so it's very pleasing to receive it. I went on a little run in December, and as a striker you take a lot of confidence from scoring goals and it's just gone from one week to another.
"I think the boys have just been a little bit inconsistent this season, we know that ourselves but there's still a lot to play for, there's still a lot of games and we're positive that come the end of the season we'll do well."
