Oxford United’s fantastic February is reflected in the nominations for the Sky Bet awards for League 1 in February.
Head Coach Karl Robinson has been shortlisted for Manager of the Month while striker Matty Taylor is on the shortlist for the Player of the Month.
The February nominations for the Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month Award are:
Joey Barton (Fleetwood Town)
What seemed a difficult February schedule with games against four promotion rivals belied Barton’s ability to lead his side to wins over Wycombe, Peterborough and Portsmouth as they picked up 16 points from six unbeaten games.
What seemed a difficult February schedule with games against four promotion rivals belied Barton’s ability to lead his side to wins over Wycombe, Peterborough and Portsmouth as they picked up 16 points from six unbeaten games.
Kenny Jackett (Portsmouth)
Keeping his squad fresh despite cup commitments in two competitions, Jackett guided his side to five wins from seven League One fixtures and a 12-3 goal differential as they closed in on the automatic promotion places.
Keeping his squad fresh despite cup commitments in two competitions, Jackett guided his side to five wins from seven League One fixtures and a 12-3 goal differential as they closed in on the automatic promotion places.
Mark Robins (Coventry City)
Extending an unbeaten streak into a third month is not easy for the manager of any team, but try doing it when you play your homes games in another city. Robins’ players trust him implicitly and collected 16 points from six matches.
Extending an unbeaten streak into a third month is not easy for the manager of any team, but try doing it when you play your homes games in another city. Robins’ players trust him implicitly and collected 16 points from six matches.
Karl Robinson (Oxford United)
Robinson was forced to navigate his team through an eight-game league schedule. Oxford barely skipped a beat, maintaining their promotion charge with a 16-point haul.
Robinson was forced to navigate his team through an eight-game league schedule. Oxford barely skipped a beat, maintaining their promotion charge with a 16-point haul.
The Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel comprises former Barnsley manager Danny Wilson, Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman; EFL Communications Director Mark Rowan, and Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies.
The February nominations for the Sky Bet League One Player of the Month Award are:
Christian Burgess (Portsmouth) – central defender
Leader of a defence that conceded just three goals in seven games, Burgess offers a calm, cultured presence at the back for Pompey and an aerial threat in the opposing penalty area with two headed goals and an assist.
Rhys Healey (MK Dons) - striker
Scored in five of his six games and won a penalty in the other as he helped Dons move away from the relegation zone. Technically gifted, his goals featured tap-ins, a 25-yard free-kick at Lincoln and a mazy dribble against Rotherham.
Freddie Ladapo (Rotherham United) - striker
Talk about forcing your way into a winning side. Ladapo scored three goals in four substitute appearances across 85 minutes to begin the month. Having earned a starting berth, his goals secured points against Coventry and MK Dons.
Matty Taylor (Oxford United) - striker
Seven goals in as many games, plus an assist for the prolific forward whose positional instincts were on full display as he notched a last-minute equalise at Burton as well as a smartly taken late winner on the swivel against Southend.
The judging panel for the Sky Bet Player of the Month comprises Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman; EFL Communications Director Mark Rowan and Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies.
The winners will be announced on Friday morning