Gary Rowett has been named Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for January.
In his first full month in charge, the Oxford United Head Coach claims the award after guiding the U’s to an unbeaten month. Three wins and three draws in six games helped pushed United away from the relegation spots and into Championship mid-table.
The month began with a trip to face Millwall at The Den on New Year's Day, with Rowett earning three points over his old side and a first away victory of the campaign for the U's with a 1-0 win.
Two 1-1 draws followed away to Preston North End and Plymouth Argyle, before back-to-back home wins over Luton Town and Blackburn Rovers. The month ended with an impressive performance in a 0-0 draw away to Stoke City.
Rowett won the award despite competition from QPR’s Marti Cifuentes, Sunderland’s Regis Le Bris, and Cardiff City’s Omer Riza.
Speaking after winning the award, he said: “This is an award which is attributed to me, but it’s one for the whole Football Club. It’s nice to win something because it shows we have been doing something right, which is the most important thing.
“I came in at the end of December and inherited an outstanding group of players and coaches. There is an incredible standard within our Training Ground, one that I have been thoroughly impressed with.
“This award is a recognition of the performances and effort of the players and coaching staff. It’s not just the performance staff, it’s the medical staff, the sports science team, our kitman, and everyone else at the Training Ground who help us perform each day.
“The players are the ones who must take most of the credit. No matter the challenge in training or games, they have risen to it.
“The challenge now is to make sure we continue to push. We are ambitious and want to push Oxford United as far up of the league, and we will only achieve that if we continue to work hard every single day.”
