The winners of the Sky Bet EFL Manager of the Month Award for February are:
Sky Bet Championship: Vincent Kompany (Burnley)
Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has been named the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for February.
Unbeaten since early November, Kompany guided his Championship leaders effortlessly through another successful month, amassing 14 points from six games, including fixtures against Norwich, Watford, Luton and Millwall, with a 13-2 goal differential.
Kompany said: “I’m really pleased to win this award again, up against some great managers in the Championship.
“It was a good month for us, with some difficult away trips but I’m really proud of the side for continuing the hard work and consistently producing.
“A mention and thanks to all the staff who have played a part to this again; the coaches, physios, medical, sports science, analysts, kit staff, grounds staff and everyone else who played a part.”
Danny Wilson chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel.
He said: “Vincent’s team are looking relentless as they strive to return to the Premier League. In addition to picking up 14 points in an unbeaten February, they are doing it in style with 13 goals scored in fixtures which looked very difficult on paper.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Kompany’s stranglehold on this award goes on, because it’s impossible to underestimate the work he’s doing at Turf Moor.
“The likes of Michael Carrick came close to ending Kompany’s run of three awards in as many months, but after another 14 points from six games, Burnley’s form under the Belgian remains sensational.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “At odds of 1/33, Vincent Kompany’s Burnley look destined to win the Championship title this season and secure an immediate return to the top-flight of English football.
“Kompany’s side have spent nearly all the season at the top of the table and hold a ten-point advantage over their nearest challengers.
“In such a short space of time, Kompany has transformed Burnley’s identity and he has got the Clarets playing an open, attacking style of football.
“His side are the league’s highest scorers and also boast the meanest defence – we have rated them as the best team since week six.
“At 1/1000 promotion is virtually guaranteed and has been for a while, but it’s worth remembering the market wasn’t so confident in them before a ball was kicked, presumably because had a near-enough brand new set of players and there were several teams more fancied than them.
“Sky Bet had them as big as 4/1 to go back up and as big as 12/1 for the title before a ball was kicked.”
Sky Bet League One: Michael Duff (Barnsley)
Barnsley manager Michael Duff has been named the Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month for February.
Barnsley were almost unstoppable as they paired 16 points with 16 goals from six unbeaten games. They did so with the clinical edge that Duff has instilled, ending the month with an emphatic 4-1 win over fellow contenders Derby.
Duff said: “It’s humbling to be recognised and win this award for the third time this campaign. The input and support of my backroom staff cannot go unnoticed. Without their tireless hard-work, advice and expertise, there would be no accolades or achievements, so thank you to them.
“Plaudits also must go to my players. They deserve this award just through their sheer application and energy with everything they approach, combined with good quality.
“It has been a great couple of months for the Club, but we need to ensure that continues going into the business end of the season. Thank you to the Reds supporters who have backed us far and wide all season and now our attention focuses to Plymouth on Saturday.”
Danny Wilson chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel.
He said: “16 points from their six games gave Michael and his team an unbeaten February which boosted their Play-Off position and their confidence after finishing the month with a barnstorming 4-1 win against fellow contenders Derby County.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Going unbeaten over a six-game period will always put you in the reckoning for manager of the month honours, and that’s exactly what Barnsley were able to produce for their boss in February.
“His side were fantastic, scoring 16 goals within the month including four in a statement win over Derby.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “Since losing 2-0 to Charlton in January, Michael Duff’s Barnsley side have been on a nine-game unbeaten run, which has included seven wins and two draws.
“Duff’s men recorded four wins on the bounce prior to Saturday’s stalemate with Bristol Rovers, but this point still left the Tykes in the final Play-Off spot, with the Yorkshire outfit now 3/1 from 4/1 at the start of the month be promoted back to the Championship at the first time of asking.
“Duff’s teams are always built around being solid defensively and this Barnsley team is no different having only conceded 29 goals in 33 games so far, with only leaders Sheffield Wednesday have conceded less. At 1/4 for the top six, we fully expect them make the Play-Offs at least.”
Sky Bet League Two: Dave Challinor (Stockport County)
Stockport County manager Dave Challinor has been named the Sky Bet League Two Manager of the Month for February.
The momentum Stockport have built up since they acclimatised to life back in the EFL lifted Challinor’s side into the Play-Off positions. Such was their consistency, they scored at least two goals in each of their five wins from six games.
Challinor said: “Obviously delighted to win this award for the second time this season, after what proved to be a really good month for us.
“The competitive nature of this league means it’s really difficult to string a consistent number of wins together, as results elsewhere have shown, so to win five games on the spin was a fantastic achievement and credit to the players for that.
“We were disappointed with how the month ended away at Barrow, but overall the run we went on has put us in a position that we’d all have taken at the start of the season, particularly after the bad start we had in our opening ten games.
“We’re right in the promotion mix now with 11 games left to play, so hopefully we can keep this going now and make it an exciting end to the season for our supporters.”
Danny Wilson chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel.
He said: “Five wins in February has propelled Dave and his Stockport team into a great position in the top six of League Two. Consistency is the key to success in any league and Stockport are showing that at a key time of the season.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Dave Challinor’s now a multi-winner of the award this season and for good reason.
“Navigating the EFL after a non-league promotion is no easy task but Stockport have been extremely consistent, and particularly in February. Five wins from six is a fantastic record and it was enough to put County firmly in the Play-Off picture.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “After a slow start to life back in League Two, 6/1 pre-season favourites Stockport have now hit their straps and climbed as high as fifth during February.
“Challinor guided County to the NL title last season and big things were expected again this time around but after a difficult start to life in League Two, he has slowly turned things around at Edgeley Park and remain one of the favourites at 5/4 for promotion from 2/1 at the start of the month.”
The winners of the Sky Bet EFL Player of the Month Award for February are:
Sky Bet Championship: Tom Bradshaw (Millwall)
Millwall striker Tom Bradshaw has been named the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for February.
It is the importance of Bradshaw’s five goals that stands out. His hat-trick earned a 3-2 win over second-placed Sheffield United, he came on to equalise against leaders Burnley and scored again against play-off rivals Luton.
Millwall manager Gary Rowett said: “It’s thoroughly deserved. Tom’s peformances have been fantastic for us in what’s been a good period for us against some very difficult teams.
“His hat-trick against Sheffield United I thought was incredible, and to go on and score some other really important goals such as the late equaliser against Burnley and the goal against Luton, I think he’s been integral to our league position and integral for us challenging for the top six.
“He’s a great guy, he just comes in with a smile on his face every day, works as hard as he can and plays for the team and it’s great to see this award going to him.”
Bradshaw said: “It was a good month, there were some tough fixtures in there – Sheffield United, Burnley, Sunderland, Luton Town, plus QPR and Coventry City away. So, to pick up the award is a brilliant feat for me, but it’s also for the team, who did well as well.
“Any striker wants to score goals, but I’m very much a team player. I like to help the team defend, assist my team-mates and press from the front.
“I’ve been lucky enough to score five goals during the month, but there’s no way I’m scoring them without the help of my team and the shift they put in.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “A number of Championship players were in the goals in February, but Tom Bradshaw’s were of the utmost importance, all coming against top six opposition.
“The Millwall man stepped up when it was needed most, not least with his hat-trick performance against Sheffield United that secured a massive three points.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “Millwall’s Tom Bradshaw was in sublime form once again during February as the striker put in some impressive performances most notably against the best two teams in the competition.
“The Lions number nine scored a hat-trick in the win over Sheffield Utd before netting an equaliser against Burnley and scored against fellow Play-Off contenders Luton to enhance belief among Millwall fans that this could finally be the season they are promoted to the Premier League.
“Bradshaw has thirteen league goals so far this season and sits in fourth place in the scorer charts and is 50/1 to be the Championship’s top marksman.
“Millwall are 7/1 for promotion and sit just outside the top 6 in the race for the Play-Offs that looks set to go down to the wire. We have them 10/11 to make the Play-Offs and 4/5 to miss out.”
Sky Bet League One: David McGoldrick (Derby County)
Derby County striker David McGoldrick has been named the Sky Bet League One Player of the Month for February.
McGoldrick was simply sublime in February. His six goals and three assists, which included a five-minute hat-trick either side of half-time against Morecambe, do not tell the full story of his movement, crossing ability and razor-sharp finishing.
Derby manager Paul Warne said: “Didzy’s overall play has been excellent this season. He makes us a better team when he’s out on the pitch and that has been reflected with the impact he’s had.
“He’s a great guy, an experienced professional, and he wants the team to do well. He plays an important role for our younger players too, both on and off the pitch, in how he conducts himself.
“He’s been essential for us over the course of the season and he had an excellent February on a personal basis, contributing with an impressive goals return and a number of assists.”
McGoldrick said: “It’s good to win the award. I remember I got the League One Player of the Month 13 years ago at Coventry on loan so time flies!
“I’ve felt like I’ve been in good form probably since the Bristol Rovers game, really confident in front of goal, smelling out chances and hitting the target, with most of them going in.
“It happens in football where every time you get a sniff of goal, you feel like it’s going in.
“As a striker, I’ve been there where you’re not as confident, when you’re on droughts, but when you’ve got goals behind you, you’re a bit more confident and you attempt things like the chip against Barnsley.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “David McGoldrick was the exceptional candidate in League One this month, with his output for Derby County through the roof.
“The striker had a phenomenal run of form, smashing six goals along with a trio of assists.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “Only Jonson Clarke-Harris has scored more goals in League One this season than Derby striker David McGoldrick, whose sixteen goals for the Rams has kept them in the hunt for promotion to the Championship.
“Derby are 9/4 to go straight back up and there’s no doubt McGoldrick’s goals will play a huge role for them as we enter the final part of the season.
“After finding the net six times in February, including his third hat-trick of the season we have cut the former Ireland international from 22/1 at the start of the month into 11/2 second- favourite now behind Clarke-Harris to finish the season as top scorer.”
Sky Bet League Two: Dan Kemp (Hartlepool United)
Hartlepool United striker Dan Kemp has been named the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month for February.
Kemp has made a stunning impact with five goals in six games after arriving on transfer deadline day. And this in a struggling side and playing three different positions. He struck a brilliant free-kick against Sutton and then did it again at Wimbledon.
Hartlepool manager John Askey said: “We’re delighted for Kempy. We can see the qualities he has and he’s going to be so important for us in the final run in.”
Kemp said: “I’d like to thank everyone at Hartlepool United for their support since I joined the club. This is a good team with an even better group of players. We now need to finish the season strong.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “There were some excellent contenders in February but Dan Kemp gets the nod for his immediate impact.
“As a new signing, he was thrown in the deep end in a number of roles but was sublime in each, while contributing five goals in just six games.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “Dan Kemp was in sensational form for Hartlepool during February as the midfielder scored five goals and assisted another in just his first seven appearances for the club since arriving on loan from MK Dons at the end of January.
“His new side are still struggling towards the bottom of League Two though, and at 4/9 are still battling relegation.
“They’re currently one place above the drop zone but have played two more games than 23rd-placed Crawley.
“If Kemp carries on this form, though, Monkey Hangers’ fans will be confident it can be them who avoids the dreaded drop out of the EFL and after the impact Kemp has made so far who would bet against them.”