Aston Villa, Oldham and Notts County players take Sky Bet EFL monthly honours for superb strikes - watch them here
Friday 16 March 2018 07:41, UK
Aston Villa midfielder Conor Hourihane is the Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month winner for February, receiving 40% of the public vote.
In a bumper month for spectacular goals in the Championship, Hourihane etched his name in Second City derby and Villa folklore with a stunning effort; chesting the ball down, he struck the sweetest of dipping volleys into the Birmingham net.
Lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports Pundit Don Goodman said: "What an incredible goal to cap a brilliant performance from Aston Villa in the derby, and one that continued the momentum of their promotion charge.
"Hourihane has made a real habit of scoring great goals from midfield throughout his career and the anticipation he showed to know where the ball was going to drop, the confidence with which he took this touch and the fierce dipping strike was no surprise to those of us who have seen some of his strikes in the past."
Hourihane said: "It's a very nice accolade to get, one I haven't had before in my career, so big thanks to the fans for voting for me.
"It's a huge game when we play Birmingham so winning was the most important thing, but to get a special goal at the same time was fantastic.
"I like to practice my shooting every day on the training ground and I'm a big believer that hard work pays off and you'll get a bit of luck on the pitch.
"We had a fantastic result against Wolves, before a disappointing one in midweek, so we have to show a bit of character now and bounce back on Saturday before the international break."
Hourihane came out on top from a longer-than-usual shortlist including Wolves' Ruben Neves, Bolton's Adam Le Fondre, Sheffield United's Billy Sharp, Burton Albion's Jamie Allen and Reading's Liam Kelly.
The goal came from a hopeful boot upfield from his keeper, which left Nazon in the company of two defenders 40 yards from goal. A shield, a shimmy, a slip inside and a slide-rule finish did the rest.
Goodman said: "I'm a huge fan of this goal as it's old-fashioned centre-forward play at it's very best. Even though he's isolated Nazon shows incredible strength, followed by wonderful skill and coolness in the finish and all that against two of League One's better defenders.
"Route one is rarely the most fashionable or attractive style of football but a goal like this is still a thing to be admired on many different levels and what a fantastic way to get off the mark for a new club for Nazon."
Nazon said: "I'm very proud to be able to bring this trophy home, there were two of us in the race - me and Cameron, but I got it so I'm very happy.
"One defender was on my back, so I went past him but he came back and I gave him 'megs' and then I scored. I'm always trying to get myself one on one with defenders and I was comfortable doing this, which I think is why I scored."
Nazon beat off competition from his team-mate Cameron Dunnigan and Shrewsbury Town's Alex Rodman.
It was almost as if 'Noordinho' was waiting for the ball to be headed out to him from a free-kick, so calmly did he chest it down before powering home a 30-yarder into the top corner.
Goodman said: "When a free-kick is headed out of defence, you often see follow-up shots end up in Row Z!
"Not on this occasion though; the way that Husin struck across the ball to swerve it away from the goalkeeper sent it thundering into the top corner, and gave the goalkeeper no chance.
"Husin has only scored one goal in the league this season, but with a strike of that quality, Kevin Nolan may well be asking him to try his luck more often in the run-in."
Husin said: "I'm delighted - it's a good individual prize to win and I was up against some good goals.
"We had a free-kick deep in the opposition's half and it got headed out and I saw someone coming towards me so got a touch round them and didn't see anything else, just tried to hit it and keep it on target and it flew in the top corner.
"A goal always helps you settle in and show what you can do, so I'm delighted with it."
Husin beat off competition from Cheltenham Town's Joe Morrell and Swindon Town's Matt Taylor.
