O’TOOLE GETS THE BALANCE RIGHT...
JOHN-JOE O’Toole’s switch from midfield to striker has brought with it the added benefit of fewer disciplinary problems.
And boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink insists the 29year-old has found the right balance for his natural aggression.
Irishman O’Toole, who scooped the Sky Bet League One Player of the Month award for January, moved up front for Northampton last month and had scored four in his past five matches coming into this weekend.
And, for a man who has received at least ten bookings in his last five seasons, his haul of only five so far this term is pleasingly low, according to Hasselbaink.
“I still want him to be competitive. I don’t want to change John-Joe,” said the Cobblers manager.
“If you’re not going to have John-Joe being competitive, being a nuisance on the pitch, then I don’t think you are going to have what makes him.
“It’s a fine line and we need to try to have that balance right. At the moment, we have it right and he needs to just keep it.”
And the former Bristol Rovers man agreed with his manager’s assessment.
“I’m a little bit further up now, but it’s good. It’s something I guess I needed to address (discipline), but I don’t see referees getting any better,” he said.
FULHAM starlet Ryan Sessegnon has added to his burgeoning reputation by landing the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month award.
The 17-year-old leftsider notched six goals in four games as the in-form Whites roared into promotion contention.
The highly-rated youngster, who has caught the eye of some of football’s giants, bagged doubles in the victories against Ipswich (4-1), (6-0) and Barnsley (3-1).
“It’s a great feeling to be named the Championship Player of the Month but I think it’s credit to the team and the way we’ve all been playing in January, which has allowed me to get this award,” said Sessegnon. “It’s an amazing feeling.
“It’s been down to the gaffer playing me in a higher position, allowing me to play further forward and scoring more and cre- ating more goals. At this minute, I’m liking my role further up the pitch with the ability to contribute goals and assists.”
Important
Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic said: “Ryan is a young player with a very big future and is an important member of our team.
“Winning this award provides recognition for the good work he and the team have done so far and I expect he will continue to show his skill and qualBurton ities to help us for the rest of the season.”
John-Joe O’Toole’s switch further forward paid dividends as four goals in five games saw him land the League One honour, while Coventry’s Marc McNulty bagged the League Two gong after also netting four times.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce picked up the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month award after his side won all their four games and moved up to third in the table.
In League One, Steve Lovell took the honours after continuing to revive Gillingham’s fortunes. They were 23rd when he took charge in October, but a full house of 12 points from four games in January lifted the Gills up to tenth place.
Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth claimed the League Two accolade as his side won four on the spin, including a superb 3-2 win at pacesetters Luton, to climb to second.