Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw have missed out on September’s Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month award, with West Ham United boss Nuno Espirito Santo taking the honours.
Our joint head coaches were shortlisted after guiding City to eight points from five league matches, including successive away victories at Preston North End and Bristol City. They were nominated alongside Nuno, Swansea City’s Vitor Matos and Stoke City’s Mark Robins.
September also brought home draws against Blackburn Rovers and Southampton before defeat to Swansea, with three clean sheets across those five Championship fixtures. It was a month that earned Chris and Tom recognition for their work following our promotion from League One.
However, West Ham’s unbeaten run proved enough to secure the award for Nuno. The Hammers collected 13 points from a possible 15 and scored 18 goals, responding to a slower start in August as they pursue an immediate return to the Premier League.
Speaking before the winner was announced, Chris was asked whether being nominated alongside Tom was something he appreciated. His first response was a light-hearted reference to the recognition Michael Skubala received during last season’s promotion campaign.
“I always think Michael (Skubala) won all of them last year! At one point, it felt like he’d had all 12.”
Chris then explained that he saw the nomination as recognition of the work being done throughout the club. Although he and Tom were the names on the shortlist, he was keen to share the credit with those working around them.
“It’s just a reflection of the football club for me. We know the work that everyone puts into it.”
“We’re really lucky because it’s our names that are on Sky Sports News or whatever, but it’s just a reflection of the good processes of the football club, from Jez and Liam all the way down, that we’re even being spoken about alongside those types of names.”
West Ham also claimed September’s Championship Player of the Month award, with defender Konstantinos Mavropanos completing a double for the London club ahead of their trip to the Bank next week. He scored four times in five matches, including a headed equaliser at Millwall, while helping his side keep two clean sheets during the month that secured both individual prizes.
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