Who were the stars of the show in the Football League in November? Peter Beagrie makes his choices...
There were some fantastic managerial performances throughout the Football League in November. Here's my guide to the best of the bunch:
Championship Manager of the Month
Nominees: Malky Mackay (Cardiff), Sam Allardyce (West Ham), Derek McInnes (Bristol City), Keith Hill (Barnsley)
I'll start by mentioning two of the more unfashionable clubs, who have been absolutely brilliant in the month of November.
The turnaround at Bristol City since
Derek McInnes took over has been nothing short of staggering. He managed to mastermind 12 points from five games in an unbeaten run in November, including a monumental win against Southampton and a draw with second-placed West Ham. They weren't able to put on a show for the
Sky Sports cameras last week, but I spoke to the players, supporters and people at board level at the club and they're convinced they have the right man in charge.
Keith Hill has been fantastic for Barnsley, who picked up three victories from four games in November - and they all came in Yorkshire derbies against Hull, Doncaster and Leeds, who were flying at the time. When you look at the position they were in at the start of the month, you can see how far they've come. Hill won't compromise his principles by playing a long-ball game and they've started December in a positive vein against Peterborough.
There's a sense of belief and consistency at West Ham that you don't usually get when teams come down, so
Sam Allardyce deserves a lot of credit. We saw it with Newcastle two years ago and perhaps Kevin Nolan, who was in that side, has been the leader on the pitch for Big Sam. Four wins and a draw made it a big month with the highlight undoubtedly being the 2-0 away win at Middlesbrough that ended their nine-month unbeaten home record. The Hammers only conceded two goals in those five games too.
They are all genuine contenders, but for me the outstanding candidate is
Malky Mackay of Cardiff. Aside from their league form, you'd have to say their Carling Cup win over Blackburn was fantastic and you wouldn't have known which was the Premier League side in that game. That performance came on the back of 13 points in five unbeaten league games in November and they look like the genuine article. Mackay has had to cope with the loss of Craig Bellamy, Chris Burke, Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra, some phenomenal attacking talent, yet he's producing the goods again.
PETER'S PICK: Malky Mackay
League One Manager of the Month
Nominees: Chris Powell (Charlton), Karl Robinson (MK Dons), Gary Megson (Sheff Wed), Richie Barker (Bury)
Everybody is chasing
Chris Powell and Charlton. They had a seven-point lead by the end of November, they brought Huddersfield's unbeaten run to a clinical end and it was a fabulous month. That great result capped a quality November and might just tip the award in his favour.
For me it's a choice between Powell and
Karl Robinson, whose side won four games out of four in all competitions, scored 18 goals, had 11 different scorers and really entertained. They are playing with confidence and I will pat Karl on the back because I know he's had offers to go to other clubs, but decided to stay with Mission MK. He told me that if he jumped ship then he wouldn't be able to convince players to believe in him. It's a refreshing approach.
Gary Megson has solidified Sheffield Wednesday's start to the season with two wins and a draw in November. They've been organised solid and conceded just one goal. Over the years, we've seen a lack of consistency at Wednesday and a tendency to concede goals against lesser sides, but Megson seems to have sorted that problem out and they are doing well to keep on the coat-tails of the other big teams in League One.
Bury seemed a little bit jittery after getting promotion, but the month of November was brilliant for them. They got nine points from nine, including wins at Oldham at Walsall, and it was a great month for
Richie Barker, who is still in his infancy as a manager.
PETER'S PICK: Chris Powell
League Two Manager of the Month
Nominees: Graham Turner (Shrewsbury), Mark Yates (Cheltenham), Paolo Di Canio (Swindon), Lawrie Sanchez (Barnet)
It was a perfect month for
Graham Turner and Shrewsbury with nine points out of nine. It was attacking football all round with 11 goals scored, although most came in that 7-2 win at Northampton when everything slotted into place. Knowing Graham, he'll be disappointed about the two goals he conceded there! He has to be a contender for the award.
Paolo Di Canio had a very good month and seems to be imposing some presence and panache onto the way the West Country club are performing. They had two wins and a draw in November and thumped Huddersfield 4-1 in the FA Cup. Admittedly, it was a weakened Huddersfield side but they have one of the best squads in League One and it was a semi-giantkilling from Di Canio.
There's been an incredible transformation in form at Barnet.
Lawrie Sanchez has had to cope with numerous injuries to key players but seven points out of nine is a great return for them. With their financial situation, they need to get things right in the league and in the cup and they've progressed in both the FA Cup and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in November.
However, my choice would be
Mark Yates, who led unfashionable Cheltenham to three wins out of three. They find it difficult to attract players and don't have much money, so Yates is doing a great job. I played against him and he was an uncompromising centre-half / right full-back and always had a great attitude and application. He has transferred those skills into management and is desperate to do well. Cheltenham conceded a single goal in November and are now up in the automatic promotion places. He will need to keep everybody free from injury in that small squad though.
PETER'S PICK: Mark Yates
