Phil Parkinson and Ben Alnwick nominated for Sky Bet Championship August Manager and Player of the Month

Manager Phil Parkinson and goalkeeper Ben Alnwick are both in the running to win the Sky Bet Championship Manager and Player of the Month award for August respectively.

The winners will be announced on Friday 7 September, with the finalists for both awards as follows:

Manager of the Month:

Marcelo Bielsa (Leeds United)

The Argentine has made an exceptional start at Elland Road, giving outsiders like Mateusz Klich a chance to impress and his players licence to attack at will. Six unbeaten games yielded 14 points and took them top. 

Tony Mowbray (Blackburn Rovers)

Having won back the club’s Championship status, Mowbray is determined that Rovers won’t struggle again. Well organised at the back, exciting going forward, a nine-point haul from five unbeaten games suggests they belong.

Phil Parkinson (Bolton Wanderers)

Has harnessed the momentum his side gained when securing their Championship status in the dying minutes of last season to perfection. Behind a solid defence, they beat West Brom, Reading and Birmingham to earn 10 points from five games.

Tony Pulis (Middlesbrough)

Doing what he does best, organising from the back a Boro side that has collected 14 points from six unbeaten games. They conceded just two goals all month and registered five successive clean sheets, most notably at Leeds.

Player of the Month:

Ben Alnwick (Bolton Wanderers) - Goalkeeper

His own save of the month highlights reel was the platform for Bolton’s impressive start. Superb fingertip saves against both West Brom and Birmingham were bettered by a pair of astonishing stops against Sheffield United.

Kemar Roofe (Leeds United) – Striker

Spent his career to date flitting between midfield and attack, but showed his future is as a striker, performing impressively as a frontman. Technically sound in the air and on the ground, he managed four goals and two assists.

Ollie Watkins (Brentford) – Striker

Three goals and three assists as Watkins spent the month setting up team-mates and terrorising opposing full-backs at will with his dribbling ability. The sweet timing on his shots was evident in goals against Rotherham and Stoke.

Andreas Weimann (Bristol City) – Striker

Made a positive first impression at Ashton Gate by scoring five of his new side’s seven goals in August. Allied a terrific work-rate to his knack for finding space in the box and even headed off his own line to preserve the 1-0 win at Swansea.

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