Cobblers boss Wilder named manager of the month again, but McDonald misses out on player gong

Wilder wins the top boss gong for the second month in a row, and for the third time this season, having steered the Cobblers to five wins and a draw in their six matches in February.

Town ended the month 10 points clear at the top of the table, a lead they have since increased to 13, with the team yet to lose a league game in 2016.

“We just keep rolling the performances out, and rolling the wins out,” said Wilder, who as always was quick to turn the spotlight away from himself.

“As I have said before, hand in hand with those results come nominations and awards, but as always this trophy will go upstairs because this is a club award and I have said that all along.

“We have a really good group of people that are preparing the players to produce maximum performances, and the players are doing that.

“That is how it works, and I will gladly accept this award on behalf of the football club.”

Cobblers’ record in February saw them beat Leyton Orient, Oxford United, Wycombe Wanderers and York City twice, while they also claimed a 0-0 draw at Hartlepool United.

Only two of those games were at Sixfields, and Wilder added: “We had a lot of travelling, had a lot of tough games, and I think everybody looked at that period and thought it was a definining month for us.

“There was especially the defining week with the three games we had against Leyton Orient, Oxford United and Wycombe, and that really kicked us on.

“We have had a fantastic month, there is no getting away from that, taking 16 points out of 18 and with some really tough games in there.

“There has been no flukey results, no flukey performances, we have been solid, disciplined, determined, and that was added with a lot of hard work and quality.

“Nothing has been handed to us, we have had to work extremely hard as we have done all season to get ourselves into this position, and to win games of football.”

Chairing the Sky Bet judging panel was former Scotland and Ipswich Town boss George Burley, and he said: “During the month Chris set a new club record of 10 consecutive league wins, which is an incredible achievement for any club.

“They collected 16 points out of a possible 18 available in February, which has kept them comfortably ahead in the division.”

Another judge, Sky Sports’ Football League pundit Don Goodman, said: “Chris Wilder thoroughly deserves a second manager of the month award in succession, after extending Northampton’s lead at the top of league two to an almost unassailable points margin.

“His hard work and determination earned five wins for the Cobblers in February as they kept marching towards the title.”

It wasn’t such good news for McDonald, who missed out on the player award to York City striker Bradley Fewster, who scored five times in five games for the struggling Minstermen.

But Wilder was still full of praise for the 23-year-old, saying: “I don’t think Rod could have done any more, he had an outstanding month,

“He scored a fantastic goal in the win at Leyton Orient, and was part of a defence that in the month conceded one goal.

“Rod is part of a good group, and we are delighted he is progressing in the right manner, and attitude wise he gets his head down and is another one that does his talking on the pitch.”