MANAGER OF THE MONTH
SHEFFIELD United boss Chris Wilder saluted a ‘team effort’ after bagging the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month award for March.
The Blades picked up 13 points from five unbeaten games to boost their automatic promotion prospects at a crucial time of the season.
“It is a team effort and the team I’m referring to is everyone of a red and white persuasion,” stressed the 57-year-old. “March was a vitally important month for us, with some high pressure games, but we came through it to put ourselves in a fantastic position to challenge.
“I’m so proud of what we have achieved so far this season and I’m not ashamed to talk about it.
“This club has been through a lot this season from the ownership change, pre-season struggles, getting players in, the points deduction, trying to put a team together to hit the ground running and having a target on our backs straight away from coming down from the Premier League in the manner that we did.”
In League One, Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson took the honours. He drew on his squad’s promotion-winning mentality to emerge from a set of difficult-looking fixtures against five promotion rivals with 16 points from seven games.
“I’m delighted to get the award,” said the 57-year-old. “It was a good effort through the month of March by all the staff and players and it has set us up nicely for the run-in.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Wrexham have become a very efficient team and are constantly finding new ways to get over the line and secure three points.
“Phil Parkinson put together a team with a goal of reaching the second tier of English football, and a terrific March has put them in an excellent position to do so.”
Colchester manager Danny Cowley has taken the plaudits in League Two. Five successive wins in their seven March games lifted the U’s into the promotion picture.
Goodman said: “It’s important to find form at the right time and in League Two Colchester have proved that in March.
“The picture can change very quickly in what is a seriously competitive division, and five successive wins has springboarded Danny Cowley’s side into play-off contention.” The Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel comprises Goodman, former
Barnsley manager Danny Wilson and Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies.
● Player of the Month – see back page
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