Rotherham United midfielder Ollie Rathbone has been pipped to the Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month award for January by Coventry City midfielder Gustavo Hamer.
Rathbone’s rocket against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday 14th January had been nominated as one of four goals for the award, but it is the Sky Blues’ midfielder’s strike against Huddersfield Town later in the month which has landed the prize.
Gustavo Hamer – COVENTRY CITY v Huddersfield Town – 28th January
Coventry City midfielder Gustavo Hamer is the Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month winner for January.
Hamer took 10 touches in a run which saw him twist and turn, play a one-two with Viktor Gyokeres, waltz past four Huddersfield defenders and finally curl his shot into the far corner.
Hamer said: "I am buzzing to win the award, of course! It was a great ball from Ben [Wilson], he saw me standing free, and Viktor [Gyokeres] also played his part with a little one-two inside their box.
"It was a team goal that took us from the back to the front. When I got the ball I had to do a little bit of improvisation but I was buzzing to see the ball hit the back of the net.
"I had to contribute more goals this season, it was something that I had to do better than last year. I always want to improve and I am already on five, which is the joint-most I have scored in a single season. It is good that I have been able to contribute more to the team in that way and it is great that I have won an award for one of them."
Lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports Pundit Don Goodman said: “This is a goal which mixes tenacity with real quality, and what impresses me the most is that Hamer has no right to score from where he picks the ball up.
“In total, Hamer has seven Huddersfield defenders and the goalkeeper to beat, and yet he manages to find a way through them with the help of a one-two with Viktor Gyokeres and a calm, calculated finish.”
Hamer beat off competition from Burnley’s Scott Twine, Reading’s Jeff Hendrick & Rotherham United’s Ollie Rathbone.