Derby County midfielder Max Bird’s stunning long-range strike at Cheltenham Town is in the running for the Sky Bet League One Goal of the Month award for January 2023.
The 22-year-old let fly with a sensational effort from distance, which found the top corner, to put Derby 2-1 up at the Completely-Suzuki Stadium as Paul Warne’s side registered all three points with a 3-2 success in their first away fixture of the calendar year.
Academy graduate Bird, who is Derby’s vice-captain and has worn the armband for large parts of the season, has made 37 appearances in all competitions this term and found the back of the net on two occasions.
The supporters' votes will be combined with the choices from a panel to determine the winners. The judging panel comprises Sky Sports’ EFL experts Don Goodman and David Prutton.
The League One Goal of the Month shortlist is as follows:
Will Vaulks – Wycombe Wanderers v SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY – 14th January
Vaulks is no stranger to spectacular strikes and equally impressive celebrations. What stood out with this one was the ball’s constant trajectory, still rising as it flew into the top corner.
Max Bird – Cheltenham Town v DERBY COUNTY – 14th January
Striding onto a bouncing clearance 35 yards out, Bird controlled it neatly and had no other thought in his mind than driving it into the top corner with an unerring swish of his left boot.
James Norwood – BARNSLEY v Accrington Stanley – 21st January
As the ball dropped towards him with his back to goal, Norwood sized up the possibility of a bicycle kick, glancing around before launching himself into the air and connecting sweetly.
Aaron Morley – Charlton Athletic v BOLTON WANDERERS – 28th January
Some free-kicks are simply unstoppable, no matter how far out they are. Morley imparted the perfect combination of pace, curl and accuracy on the ball which clipped the inside of the post.
