The December nominations for the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month Award are:
Marti Cifuentes (Queens Park Rangers)
It would have been easy to panic when Rangers went into the last international break bottom of the table. Instead, Cifuentes kept faith in his players and his methods. The belief was reciprocated with QPR gaining 11 points from six December games.
Daniel Farke (Leeds United)
Farke had Leeds running at their opponents from all angles in December with eight different scorers among their 13 goals. Irresistible at Elland Road, they conceded just two in a haul of 16 points from six games to move top of the Championship.
Scott Parker (Burnley)
Parker continues to develop cohesion within a team largely put together at the end of August. An unbeaten month in which Burnley conceded just three goals also brought a hugely significant 2-0 win at promotion rivals Sheffield United.
Danny Rohl (Sheffield Wednesday)
Rohl led his side to 11 points from seven games in 29 days to move into the top half. He has instilled belief away from home, with Wednesday coming from behind to win at Derby and Oxford, and from 3-0 down to draw at Middlesbrough.
The December nominations for the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month Award are:
Josh Brownhill (Burnley) - midfielder
Brownhill’s influence on Burnley’s promotion push cannot be overstated. Nor his ability to score crucial goals. As well as two assists, his three goals included the winner at Norwich and a stooping header at the far post for the opener at Sheffield United.
Jimmy Dunne (Queens Park Rangers) – full-back
Dunne’s success on the pitch - striding forward from right-back to score two goals, including a late-headed winner, in addition to contributing to two clean sheets – was bravely played out against the heartbreak of losing his father in early December.
Callum Lang (Portsmouth) – attacking midfielder
Five goals in four games for Pompey’s talismanic attacking force. Lang’s energy in the press is infectious. His reward was all four goals against Coventry – a shot from distance, a rising drive, a header and, finally, sniffing out a rebound.
Ephron Mason-Clark (Coventry City) - winger
After enduring a difficult start at Coventry, Mason-Clark was set free to create havoc by new manager Frank Lampard. His three goals and three assists included two goals ghosting in at the far post and stellar wing play for the winner over Hull.