Manager Phil Parkinson is one of the four contenders to win the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month accolade for October.
The winner will be announced on Friday 10 November, with the finalists as follows:
Ian Holloway (Queens Park Rangers)
Trusted his methods and his players through a frustrating sequence of draws. Home wins against the top two, Wolves and Sheffield United, in the space of four days saw QPR pick up eight points from four unbeaten games.
Phil Parkinson (Bolton Wanderers)
Unable to recruit players this summer due to a transfer embargo, he has worked tirelessly to inject life into his side after an abject start. A first win, over Sheffield Wednesday, was followed by three draws in an unbeaten month which restored hope.
Gary Rowett (Derby County)
October was the month in which Derby announced themselves as promotion contenders. Four wins from four earned Rowett’s men a maximum 12 points, but it was the manner of the victories he inspired at Norwich and Leeds which impressed most.
Dean Smith (Brentford)
Under Smith’s guidance and commitment to attack, the Bees trebled their season’s win total, beating Millwall and Preston as they collected seven points from three unbeaten games to move clear of the relegation zone.
The judging panel comprises former Ipswich Town manager George Burley, Sky Sports’ EFL League expert Don Goodman; EFL Marketing Director Drew Barrand, League Managers’ Association Director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet EFL Trader Mikey Mumford.