Derby County Head Coach Paul Warne has been named as the Sky Bet League One Manager Of The Month for January.
The Rams' boss guided the team to an unbeaten start to the year in league competition, claiming the maximum return of 12 points from 12 across the month.
A 4-0 home win against Accrington Stanley opened 2023 and was followed up by a 3-2 win on the road at Cheltenham Town.
The 2-1 victory over play-off rivals Bolton Wanderers midway through January saw the Rams further cement their place in the top six.
Things rounded off with the memorable and dramatic late turnaround against Port Vale which saw Derby come back from 1-0 down to win 2-1 in the dying minutes and complete what was a perfect month of Sky Bet League One action.
“I am proud to receive this award on behalf of Derby County and while I acknowledge it is handed out to an individual, this is an achievement and recognition for everyone associated with the club,” Warne said upon receiving the award.
“The players are the ones that have been delivering the results in an incredibly difficult division, our coaches are putting on excellent sessions in training and our backroom staff are playing a huge support role behind the scenes. Everyone has their individual jobs within the overall team and they are instrumental to what we’re trying to achieve.
“The way the players are working day-in-day-out and performing on the pitch is something we are all very proud of and they know there’s plenty more hard work ahead over the next few months.
“Everyone is contributing and our supporters, who back us in incredible numbers both at home and on the road, should also be recognised for the part they’ve played since we arrived at the club.”
Warne saw off strong competition for the award including Darren Moore of Sheffield Wednesday, who was also unbeaten throughout January, Morecambe’s Derek Adams and Steve Cotterill of Shrewsbury Town.
The Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel comprises of experienced former manager Danny Wilson, Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman, and Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies.
Wilson chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel and he said: “Paul and his Derby team are steadily climbing up the League One table with some terrific results in January, winning all of their fixtures and started February with a 5-0 win against Morecambe to strengthen their Play-Off position.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Goodman said: “Consistency is the aim of the game and Derby County nailed it in January, winning four from four in a perfect month that consolidated their Play-Off intentions.
“Paul Warne’s progress has been steady, but things seem to have ramped up a notch in a fantastic period for the Rams.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Davies said: “Paul Warne guided his Derby side to a perfect opening month of the year in League One.
“The Rams won four from four in January; scoring 11 goals and conceded just four in the process. Those four wins have been vital in them cementing their place in the top six (now 1/16 from 1/2 at the start of the month) whilst also keeping them in touching distance of the top two and we are now into 11/4 from 10/1 they finish in the automatics.
“We have Derby now rated as the third best team in League One and have improved their rating by about a quarter of a goal since Warne took over the reins at the back end of September.”
