Oxford United’s unbeaten December has been recognised with two nominations for the monthly Sky Bet awards.
Karl Robinson has been shortlisted for Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month and Goalkeeper Jack Stevens is on the shortlist for Player of the Month.
The December nominations for the Manager of the Month Award, with the judges’ comments are:
Didn’t panic even as his side misfired during the autumn, partly due to intermittent postponements. In December they flowed through six unbeaten games, winning the last three to collect 12 points and four clean sheets across the month.
David Artell (Crewe Alexandra)
His tenacious young side swept through the month unbeaten and garnered 14 points. The football they play is easy on the eye and difficult to defend against even when they are behind, as they were in four of their six games.
Steve Cotterill (Shrewsbury Town)
Took over a side in 23rd place and with horrendous-looking December fixtures. All he did was mastermind away wins at Hull, Lincoln and Doncaster, victory over in-form Blackpool and comeback draws with Accrington, Charlton and Wigan for a magical 15-point haul.
Neil Critchley (Blackpool)
He continues to impress in his first managerial post, building confidence and cohesion at Bloomfield Road. His team earned 11 points from six difficult matches, which included wins over promotion-chasing Portsmouth and Hull.
Sky Bet League One Player of the Month Award nominations are:
Jack Stevens (Oxford United) - goalkeeper
Finally awarded his chance with his side not having kept a clean sheet in League One since February, Stevens kept four of them in six games. Happy to leave his area to sweep up trouble, he produced flying saves against Wimbledon.
Jonson Clarke-Harris (Peterborough United) - striker
Postponements limited Peterborough to four games in the month, but that didn’t stop Clarke-Harris finding the net five times as he continued to lead the line with intelligence and force. Exhibit A was his 17-minute hat-trick against Rochdale.
Owen Dale (Crewe Alexandra) – winger
With much of Crewe’s attacking play coming down their left wing, Dale stepped in from the right to contribute four goals and an assist. No ordinary goals either, a solo run and finish against Plymouth and a stunning overhead kick at Burton.
Brennan Johnson (Lincoln City) - midfielder
Given the freedom to express himself in Michael Appleton’s young side, the on-loan teenager helped Lincoln regain first place in style. Having scored twice and contributed an assist against Northampton, he did the same against Burton.
ALL WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY 8th JANUARY
The judging panel for both awards comprises Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman; EFL Communications Director Mark Rowan and Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies.