The contenders for the Championship Manager of the Month award have been revealed, and Queens Park Rangers’ Steve McClaren, Garry Monk of Birmingham City, Derby County’s Frank Lampard and Millwall manager Neil Harris will battle it out for the October award.
The race for promotion from the Championship is hotting up, and three of the contenders for the October Manager of the Month award are well and truly in the chase. Steve McClaren’s Queens Park Rangers have surged up the table after a poor start, as has Garry Monk at Birmingham City. Frank Lampard’s Derby County are maintaining their promotion surge, while Millwall have enjoyed a turn of form under Neil Harris.
Steve McClaren – Queens Park Rangers
After a dreadful start to the season in which they lost their first four games, Queens Park Rangers surged up the table in the month of October. The Hoops picked up 13 points from a possible 15, only dropping points to promotion rivals Derby County in a 1-1 draw. QPR have kept four clean sheets in five games along their way, with on loan attacker Tomer Hemed leading the line and continuing his good form since his arrival from Brighton and Hove Albion.
Garry Monk – Birmingham City
Just like Queens Park Rangers, Birmingham City dropped only two points in October, winning four out of five games against Rotherham United, Stoke City, Reading and Sheffield Wednesday after opening the month with a 1-1 draw with Brentford. The Blues’ charge up the table was led by striker Lukas Jutkiewicz, who picked up five goals in five games. The management of Garry Monk led Birmingham to the top half of the table, after a poor start to the 2018/19 Championship season.
Frank Lampard – Derby County
By no means did Frank Lampard’s Derby County have the best month in the Championship, coming away with nine points from a possible fifteen. However, The Rams came out the other end of the month unbeaten with two wins and three. Lampard’s side faced Championship promotion rivals Middlesbrough, Norwich and Sheffield United, along with a resurgent Queens Park Rangers and West Brom – who they demolished 4-1 at The Hawthorns.
Neil Harris – Millwall
Neil Harris side won three games, drew one and lost once in their five matches in October, climbing away from the Championship relegation zone. Their victories over Aston Villa, Wigan Athletic and bottom side Ipswich Town have helped The Lions rise to 19th under the guidance of Neil Harris, whose passion oozes onto the pitch and into his players. Millwall are looking to continue their good form in November to lift themselves further away from the drop.