MIKEY BAGGIES COVETED AWARD
MIKEY Johnston, Joe Taylor and Paul Mullin are celebrating landing the Sky Bet EFL Player of the Month awards for March.
Winger Johnston has been rewarded for his stunning start to life with West Brom, having joined on loan from Celtic in February.
The 24-year-old Republic of Ireland international bagged four goals in five games, plus an assist, last month to become an instant favourite of the Baggies faithful.
“I’m absolutely delighted to win this individual award, but I’d like to give credit to my team-mates and the manager (Carlos Corberan),” he said.
“Everyone was so quick to welcome me. That allowed me to hit the ground running and thankfully I’ve been able to put in some decent performances and score a few goals.”
Taylor scooped the League One honour after scoring six goals, and chipping in with an assist, in five games for red-hot Lincoln. The 21-yearold Luton loanee, who spent the first half of the season at
Colchester, bagged his first senior hat-trick in the 5-0 thumping of Bristol Rovers.
“I’ve loved every second of my loan at Lincoln City,” he said. “The players, coaching staff and everyone around the club has been brilliant and that has been reflected in the performances and results.
“Everything about the club is working for me at the moment. The fans get the LNER Stadium rocking on matchdays, and really get behind us on the road, so this award gives me an extra confidence boost going into the final games of the season.”
Boost
Boss Michael Skubala added: “Joe deserves this award for the work he puts in on the training pitch every day. He’s improved as a player throughout his time at the club and has been rewarded with the goals and accolades.
“But he knows he needs a team to score and, while he’s the one whose job it is to put it in the back of the net, he’s also shown his willingness to work for the benefit of the whole team and do whatever is needed as part of the game-plan.”
Prolific Wrexham striker Mullin, who has notched over 100 goals for the club, received the League Two gong.
He hit seven goals, and added two assists, in six games to lead the Red Dragons’ promotion push. Within that haul, he hit an 18-minute hat-trick in the 4-0 victory against Accrington.
“I’m really pleased because it was a successful month where we won a lot of games and, from a personal point of view, it’s brilliant,” said the 29-year-old.
“The goals I scored helped me hit a personal accolade which was really pleasing and importantly we got up the table at a crucial point in the season.”
Boss Phil Parkinson added: “We’re really pleased for Mulls winning the EFL Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month award - it’s well deserved.” ● MANAGER OF THE MONTH – SEE BACK PAGE
THEIR focus is on team glory, but Kieran McKen- na, Paul Warne and Pete Wild can celebrate some individual success after being named the Sky Bet EFL Managers of the Month.
Ipswich boss McKenna bagged the Championship honour for March after his promotion-chasing side bagged four wins in five games, including a 6-0 mauling of Sheffield Wednesday, to go top.
The modest 37-year-old said: “Whether it’s as a staff member or as a player, awards are always reflective of the team.
“Any Manager of the Month award is really a reflection of the work of the players on the pitch, and the work of the players on the pitch is a reflection of the work of so many people at the training ground and also at the stadium.
“It’s nice to share these things with the staff. We won this award this time last year and shared it with the staff at that point, and it was nice to speak to some of the staff about that today 12 months on.”
Warne scooped the League One prize after his Derby side won five out of six, including a vital 1-0 home victory over automatic promotion rivals Bolton.
Excellent
“The team produced some excellent results and performances during March,” said the 50-yearold former Rotherham manager.
“We found different ways to win games at a key time in the season and the entire playing squad and backroom staff deserve great credit for it.”
Wild claimed the League Two prize after his troops bagged 14 points from six unbeaten games, conceding only two goals in the process.
The 39-year-old ex-Oldham and FC Halifax boss said: “I’m really pleased to receive this award. This is my second year as a manager in the Football League and to have won this award twice this season is a magnificent achievement but, overall, I just feel a great sense of pride for the project we’re doing at the football club.
“I feel this is an award which belongs to every member of staff and every player at the football club because of how hard they work.”