Watford boss Gianfranco Zola and Cardiff City's Fraizer Campbell are rewarded for their fine form this month as Football League sponsors npower are proud to reveal the prizes for both the npower Championship Manager and Player of the Month Awards.
Four wins and a draw from five fixtures saw Zola's Watford finish February in second place, just five points behind leaders Cardiff City. With this good form coming at such a crucial time of the season, The Hornets fans will be forgiven for believing that the Premier League beckons.
A January transfer window acquisition, Fraizer Campbell had a month to remember, scoring the winning goal at Leeds United with his first touch as a substitute. Remarkably he then scored every one of Cardiff’s goals in February, with two apiece in the wins over Bristol City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, finishing coolly on each occasion.
The two awards are determined by two separate expert panels. The Manager of the Month award is decided by former Charlton Athletic manager Alan Curbishley, Football League Chief Operating Officer Andy Williamson, League Managers Association Deputy CEO Olaf Dixon and npower Partnership and Sponsorship Manager Katy Thomas. The Player of the Month panel sees Katy Thomas joined by Wolves legend Don Goodman, BBC Sport’s Mark Clemmit and The Football League’s Head of Communications, John Nagle.
Speaking about Gianfranco Zola's win, panel member Alan Curbishley commented;
“It's been a fantastic month for Watford having gone unbeaten through February. Zola’s free scoring side are now in a great position as we firmly enter the business end of the season.”
Commenting from npower, Partnership and Sponsorship Manager Katy Thomas added;
“It was clearly a very happy month for both winners. I’m sure Watford fans will be looking for more of the same to really add weight to their promotion hopes, while Cardiff City fans will be hoping that Campbell's non-stop goals will push them over the finishing line in the race for promotion.”
