Who is top manager and player?
Walsall boss Dean Smith and Yeovil Town's Paddy Madden are rewarded as Football League sponsors npower have revealed the npower League One manager and player-of-the- month awards for January.
place. Only an end-of-month loss to Colchester United denied the Saddlers a perfect month, but with victories including a convincing 3-1 defeat of high-flying AFC Bournemouth and a comprehensive 3-1 away win at Preston North End, Smith's men suddenly have half an eye on a late push for the play-offs.th to 11thFour league wins out of five saw Dean Smith's Walsall jump from 16
It was an outstanding contribution from Madden to help fuel Yeovil's perfect month. The Irish finisher scored six of his side’s seven goals from just three matches and his tireless work rate to chase down lost causes was as pivotal as his predatory instincts in front of goal.
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 Smith's win, Curbishley said:
"Dean has successfully guided his side to the top half of npower League 1 and are now potentially eyeing-up a play-off spot.”
“It's been a great month for Walsall with a very good run of results, including an emphatic win against high flying Bournemouth.
Commenting from npower, Partnership and Sponsorship Manager Katy Thomas added: “It was clearly a very happy start to the year for both winners. With this great run of form, Walsall fans will be forgiven for hopefully looking at the play-off positions, while Paddy Madden's goalscoring feats have special significance to his team-mate Marek Stech who promised to name his first born child after the player who scored first against Brentford!”