Lee Carsley has been named the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for October. Carsley keeps insisting that the Brentford post is not one for a first-time manager, yet few could have lifted them into mid-table so convincingly. He introduced a midfield diamond, freed his players and guided them to four wins out of five.

Carsley said: “I am very proud of the players. This is really a team reward rather than a personal one. Every decision I have taken in the past month has been made between myself and my assistant Paul Williams.

“If I could cut the award in half, he would get the other half. I see this as a reward for a great team effort over the month.”

George Burley chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel.

He said: “Lee took on the difficult task of trying to get Brentford back to the form of last season which he has done successfully, winning the last four games.

“The win over Queens Park Rangers showed the standard of football he is imposing on the team.”

Sky Sports’ Football League pundit Don Goodman said: “The way that Lee has turned Brentford’s fortunes around in such a short space of time is highly commendable.

“When Marinus Dijkhuizen departed the role five weeks ago, few would have predicted that Brentford would be sitting comfortably in mid-table, or that his replacement would be picking up the October Manager of the Month award.”

In Sky Bet League 1, Mark Robins of Scunthorpe United was named Manager of the Month. The Sky Bet League 2 Manager of the Month award went to Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams.

The judging panel comprises former Ipswich Town manager George Burley, Sky Sports’ Football League expert Don Goodman; Football League Chief Operating Officer Andy Williamson; League Managers’ Association Director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet Football Trading

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