Neill Collins and Herbie Kane are both in the running for Sky Bet League One honours after a terrific December for Barnsley.
The nominations for the Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month:
Neill Collins (Barnsley)
Inheriting a side which had suffered play-off final heartache and lost key players was no easy task, but Collins’ greater emphasis on build-up play is beginning to reap rewards with Barnsley collecting 11 points from five unbeaten games.
Darren Ferguson (Peterborough United)
Ferguson has pursued a deliberate policy towards integrating younger players into the Peterborough set-up, creating a vibrant side whose energy is hard for opponents to contain. Five unbeaten games brought 10 goals and 11 points.
Matt Taylor (Bristol Rovers)
Taylor’s impact at the Memorial Ground runs deeper than the 10 points from five games since his arrival. As well as adding more structure to training, he has re-integrated players like Luke Thomas and given players more freedom on the pitch.
Paul Warne (Derby County)
Derby’s near-flawless month under Warne in which they amassed 13 points from five unbeaten games included three road triumphs. Most impressive was the determination instilled by Warne to win 3-2 at Oxford from two goals behind.
The nominations for the Sky Bet League One Player of the Month:
Ethan Chislett (Port Vale) – attacking midfielder
Chislett has been a constant threat throughout Vale’s inconsistent season, exciting fans whenever he picks up the ball. His reward came in December with a hat-trick against Wigan and a delightful curler against Barnsley. He also contributed two assists.
Herbie Kane (Barnsley) - midfielder
Kane provided the box-to-box golden thread that ran through Barnsley’s unbeaten month, either scoring or assisting in every one of their five games. He managed three of each, driving forward from central midfield to add to his defensive duties.
Marlon Pack (Portsmouth) - defensive midfielder
A captain who leads by example, Pack contributed all over the pitch in December. Providing a defensive shield with his reading of the game as Pompey kept four clean sheets in six games, he also added two assists and scored at Shrewsbury.
Jordan Rhodes (Blackpool) - striker
Four more goals in five games for the veteran striker who has been the focal point of the Blackpool attack in the first half of the season. Among the quartet was a powerful header against Cambridge and a stroked finish against Bristol Rovers.
ALL WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY 12 JANUARY 2024
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.
