For the second successive month, Oxford United have been receivers of a League One award.
In August, Liam Manning was awarded Manager of the Month after guiding the U’s to the top of the table while left-back Greg Leigh picked up Player of the Month for September after netting three goals.
In recent seasons, even during successful ones, the club have often struggled to pick up these monthly awards so it highlights just how well they are currently doing on the pitch after an electric start to the campaign.
Successive Monthly Awards for Oxford United
Liam Manning
As previously stated, Manning picked up the League One Manager of the Month for August.
The U’s head coach guided the club to the top of the table with four wins from five, including trips to Derby and Barnsley.
In receiving the accolade, he became the first Oxford manager to win a monthly award since Ramon Diaz in January 2005.
Greg Leigh
Summer signing Leigh has hit the ground running and thoroughly impressed in September.
The left-back, who has been deployed as a wing-back in recent games, netted three times. The first came in the form of a stoppage-time equaliser against Port Vale, although he would pick up a second yellow moments later before the Valiants netted a 99th penalty.
He also scored a birthday brace in a 3-1 win at Stevenage, with his second goal a sensational strike.
The wait for an Oxford player to pick up a monthly award wasn’t as long as the manager, with Matty Taylor winning in February 2020.
Confident Oxford United
Picking up these awards shows just how well-managed, organised and in-form this current Oxford United squad are.
Ahead of the international break, the U’s sit second in League One, one point and one place behind league leaders Portsmouth but with a game in hand. They are also five points clear of Barnsley, who have played one game more.
Oxford are exciting to watch. They have scored goals and not conceded many and are playing with a freedom that many fans haven’t seen for a few years. Recognition from the EFL with the monthly awards highlights just how impressive Manning’s men have been.
