Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy and striker Daryl Murphy have been nominated for Sky Bet Championship Manager and Player of the Month respectively.
The Blues dropped just two points in December – the goalless draw at Bolton coming among wins over Leeds (4-1 at home), Middlesbrough (2-0 at home), Brentford (4-2 away) and Charlton (3-0 at home).
It was a run of form that moved the Suffolk side into second spot, opening up a 10-point gap to seventh-place Norwich City.
Murphy scored six goals in those five games, the division’s leading scorer taking his tally for the season to 17 – already the best return of his career and equalling the number he netted at former clubs Sunderland Celtic combined.
McCarthy is up against Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe, Middlesbrough’s Aitor Karanka and Watford’s Slavisa Jokanovic. Murphy is up against Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter, Norwich midfielder Bradley Johnson and Bolton keeper Andy Lonergan.
Both winners will be announced tomorrow morning.
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