Barnsley midfielder Adam Phillips has claimed the SkyBet League One Player of the Month award after an action-packed February.
The Tykes’ man contributed seven goals and assists during during a month that brought Barnsley closer to the automatic promotion places.
Why has Adam Phillips won the award?
Phillips notched four goals and provided three assists in a sparkling month that also saw Barnsley head coach Neill Collins nominated for the Manager of the Month gong.
The 26-year-old Englishman scored match-winning braces against both promotion rivals Derby County and play-off chasers Leyton Orient, in 2-1 wins.
Two of his assists came in another 2-1 win, as Barnsley took the three points home from Fleetwood’s Highbury Stadium. The third provided Devante Cole’s goal in a 1-1 draw between the South Yorkshire outfit and fellow promotion hopefuls Bolton Wanderers.
Who else was in the running?
Players from Lincoln City, league-leaders Portsmouth and Northampton Town were all nominated for the award.
Lincoln winger Reeco Hackett found himself on the list after returning strongly from a period on the treatment table. After recovering from his hamstring injury, Hackett has scored four goals and assists two others – all of which came in February.
He has helped the Imps to maintain an on-going ten game unbeaten run, with the pick of his contributions a fine strike against Shrewsbury Town.
Portsmouth’s Paddy Lane received a nomination for his four goals and two assists in February.
A man of the month performance and brace against Northampton might be the pick of the bunch, but his match-winner against Carlisle United is worth noting too.
Northampton midfielder Marc Leonard rounds out the list of nominees Phillips beat to the award. The Brighton & Hove Albion loanee also scored four goals in February, adding a solitary assist.
The 22-year-old has been a top performer of the Cobblers’ team that sit mid-table in League One.
Adam Phillips’ seven goal contributions trumps his fellow nominees, earning him the monthly accolade.