Oxford United Head Coach Liam Manning and defender Greg Leigh have been nominated for the September Sky Bet League One Manager and Player of the Month Awards.
Liam, winner in August, saw his side continue to shine in September while Greg’s first month with the U’s couldn’t have gone much better with his goals adding to an impressive month for the U’s.
The four candidates in each category, with the judges’ comments are:
Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month
Liam Manning (Oxford United)
Manning’s Oxford continue to entertain, scoring three goals in each of their wins in September for a total of nine points from four games. Those wins featured seven different scorers, offering an attacking threat throughout the side.
Matt Bloomfield (Wycombe Wanderers)
Finally able to mould Wycombe in the style he favours after taking over from Gareth Ainsworth last season, Bloomfield guided Wycombe into the top half with three victories from four games, all of which came with a clean sheet.
Neil Critchley (Blackpool)
Some managers just fit certain clubs. That seems to be the case on the Fylde coast with Critchley’s return to Bloomfield Road as Blackpool moved into the top half with three wins from four games, including a brave 1-0 win at Barnsley.
John Mousinho (Portsmouth)
A testing fixture list, which included games against Peterborough, Derby and Barnsley and which had Mousinho’s team trailing in four of their five games, was turned into 13 points with the resilience, belief and attacking flair he has instilled.
Sky Bet League One Player of the Month
Greg Leigh (Oxford United) – full-back
A momentous month for the Jamaica international. Three goals from three games made the left-back Oxford’s leading scorer this season. He galloped forward at will and scored twice at Stevenage, including a classy volley, on his birthday.
Devante Cole (Barnsley) – striker
Enjoying the best scoring run of his life, Cole added another four goals in five games in September and pressed tirelessly from the front. Oozing confidence and calmness, a delightful curler from the edge of the area against Burton was the pick.
Regan Poole (Portsmouth) – central defender
Solid, dependable in the air and especially composed on the ball playing out from the back, Poole stood out in attack as well as defence in September with three goals in five games including a headed winner against former club Lincoln.
Jordan Rhodes (Blackpool) – striker
The experienced striker became the first Blackpool player to score a hat-trick in five seasons when he managed the feat against Reading. As well as calmly finishing five goals in four games, his link-up play and penalty area nous stood out.
ALL WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY 13 OCTOBER 2023
The judging panel for the Sky Bet Player of the Month comprises Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman; EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch and Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies.