Sky Bet FL72: Brentford's Mark Warburton and Andre Gray secure November awards in Championship
Friday 5 December 2014 22:50, UK
Brentford boss Mark Warburton and striker Andre Gray have been named the Sky Bet Championship Manager and Player of the Month for November.
Warburton presided over five successive victories during the month, which lifted the Bees to third in the table, while former Luton star Gray scored five goals during the period, the pick after a stunning run and finish in the 4-0 defeat of Wolves last weekend.
Swindon manager Mark Cooper earned the plaudits in Sky Bet League 1, while MK Dons midfielder Carl Baker secured the player award.
Southend completed the double in Sky Bet League 2 with Phil Brown named the Manager of the Month and winger David Worrall the Player of the Month.
The judging panel for the Sky Bet Manager of the Month is chaired by former Norwich and Newcastle manager Chris Hughton, with Sky Sports’ Football League expert Don Goodman, Football League chief operating officer Andy Williamson, League Managers’ director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet football trading manager Paul Lowery.
The judging panel for the Sky Bet Player of the Month comprises Goodman, Dixon and Lowery along with Football League head of communications John Nagle.
Here, Sky Sports takes a more in-depth look at the award winners...
Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month:
Mark Warburton (Brentford)
Warburton spent early autumn trying to convince his players they belong in the Sky Bet Championship.
After a perfect November with five wins, 14 goals and a play-off position, Warburton was proved right as Brentford’s thrilling attacking play swept everyone aside.
Hughton said: “For a team that won promotion last season Brentford have made a fantastic start to the new campaign.
“To record five straight wins in the Sky Bet Championship is a wonderful achievement and Mark Warburton is thoroughly deserving of this award.”
Goodman said: “Brentford continue to impress in their first season in the second tier for 21 years.
“Securing their fifth straight Championship win with a 4-0 demolition job of Wolves, Warburton will be dreaming of a repeat of last season’s promotion heroics.”
Lowery said: “For me there was no other contender for this month’s award. Brentford have been breathtaking under Warburton during November.
“They averaged nearly three goals a game and obliged on five straight occasions for backers on our goal frenzy coupon, where teams can be backed to score two or more in a match.
“The Bees are now 4/1 to achieve promotion, having been 11/1 at the start of the season.”
Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month:
Andre Gray (Brentford)
Gray’s period of adjustment from Conference football last season is over.
His predatory instincts are now on full show in the Sky Bet Championship with five goals in as many games, notably his curving run and clinical finish in the 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Warburton said: “I am delighted for Andre. He will be the first to say that any award we receive speaks volumes about the team as a whole.
“Andre has made significant progress in a short period of time. He has demonstrated an eye for goal and a desire to improve.
“He is still a young player with significant development still to come. We look forward to watching his prog
