Nominations for Schu and Mayor
PLYMOUTH Argyle’s superb form during March has led to national recognition for manager Steven Schumacher and midfielder Danny Mayor.
Schumacher, who guided his side to an 18-point haul from seven games, has been nominated for the Sky Bet League One Manager-of-theMonth award.
The 37-year-old has been shortlisted along with Shrewsbury Town’s Steve Cotterill, Kieran McKenna of Ipswich Town and Wigan Athletic’s Leam Richardson.
March was only Schumacher’s fourth month of his managerial career after taking over from Ryan Lowe when he left for Preston North End in December.
Argyle went on a run of six consecutive victories and clean sheets before ending the month with a 1-0 defeat away to in-form Ipswich.
Meanwhile, 31-year-old Mayor is in the running for the Sky Bet League One Player-of-the-Month award for March.
The midfielder had four assists during the month and also scored a spectacular goal in a 2-0 victory over Cheltenham Town at Home Park.
Also up for the players’ prize are Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Barry Bannan, MK Dons defender Harry Darling and Cheltenham Town striker Alfie May.
The winners of both Sky Bet awards will be announced on Friday morning.
The panel said of Schumacher’s nomination: “Any Argyle fans fearing the worst when Ryan Lowe departed in December have been swiftly comforted by Schumacher’s calmness and tactical acumen. Six wins from seven games, conceding just one goal, lifted his side into fourth.”
On Mayor, they said: “Argyle’s creative spark, there was no telling where Mayor would pop up next. His four assists included a wicked curling cross against Morecambe and a genius of a pass against Wimbledon to add to his impudent lobbed finish against Cheltenham.”
Meanwhile, it was quite a 24 hours for Ryan Law last week. First, the Argyle wing-back was told he would be offered a new contract by the Pilgrims on Friday.
Then, the 22-year-old received a late call-up to the Argyle team for the crunch League One clash against Oxford United the following afternoon when Steven Sessegnon failed a fitness test.
Sessegnon had been set to play at left wing-back in the continued absence of the injured Conor Grant but was also ruled out.
An ankle injury to Sessegnon meant that Law made only his second league start of the season but the academy graduate made the most of it.
His deep cross in the 56th minute led to skipper Joe Edwards scoring the only goal of the game with a welltaken volley.
Law, whose current contract ends this summer, was part of an Argyle side who kept a sixth successive clean sheet at Home Park, and a seventh from their last eight games overall.
Manager Steven Schumacher said: “Ryan Law got a phone call at half-11 on Saturday saying Steven Sessegnon failed a fitness test after he got a kick on his ankle yesterday in training.
“It was an innocuous one but he woke up this morning and it was too stiff. He couldn’t really run properly. So he (Law) is in, he’s not fazed by it, he knows his role and responsibilities.
“Everyone is told when we are training you have got to listen, you have got to take on board the information because things can happen quick in football.
“Romoney (Crichlow) last week away at Ipswich was on after 20 minutes and knew exactly what he was doing. So did Lawsy today - outstanding.”