Sunderland Echo

Lee Johnson picks up the August Manager of the Month award

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Sunderland manager Lee Johnson has been named the Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month for August.

If the sale of last season’s leading scorer Charlie Wyke dismayed some Sunderland fans, Johnson has quickly allayed their fears by guiding the Black Cats to the top of League One in style, with four wins from their opening five games.

Johnson said: “This is presented as an individual award, but there is no doubt that it is for the collective.

“It has been a really nice month for us, but it is only been achievable by top attitudes displayed throughout the club.

“There are so many people that work extremely hard for that carrot at the end of the week and sometimes they don’t get the credit for that, so it’s a nice award for us a wider club.

“Now, we want to make sure we stay in the hunt for these awards month on month because that means that the team is being successful and the wider club is enabling the team to be at its best.”

Danny Wilson chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel.

He said: “With a very high expectatio­n from the fans, it has been a strong start from Lee’s team.

“Extra pressure comes with Sunderland’s huge fanbase, but they have responded very well with four wins out of five.”

Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “Will Lee Johnson be the man that finally turns the tide for this sleeping giant?

“His side have started the season in fine form, only dropping points against Burton Albion, and winning three of five tough-looking leagues games by a single goal.”

Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “Lee Johnson’s Sunderland are one of several sleeping giants in League One and this is their fourth season in English football’s third tier and, like the previous three, they were once again installed by the bookies as preseason favourites, this time at 6/1 to win the title and 9/4 to be promoted.

“In the first month of the season, Johnson oversaw a great reaction to his team’s Play-Off disappoint­ment at the end of last season and after their excellent start, Sunderland’s price to win the league has now more than halved into 11/4 with them into even money to finally be promoted back to the Championsh­ip.”

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