The EFL have now released the winners of the January Goal of the Month competition for the Championship, League One and League Two.
January gave plenty of strikes to consider but the EFL have now picked each of the division winners from the past month.
The winners of the EFL Goals of the Month are chosen by a fan poll on Skysports.com and the shortlist for the poll is decided by a judging panel following suggestions from supporters via Twitter.
The judging panel is made up of Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman, Sky Bet Sponsorship Manager David Tweed and EFL Senior Media Manager Rob Meaden.
January’s winners are as follows:
Championship:
James Maddison – Norwich City v Brentford – January 27
Norwich City midfielder James Maddison is the Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month winner for January receiving 51% of the public vote. This was a second award this season for a player who connects with the ball so cleanly. After neatly slipping a tackle against Brentford, Maddison’s searing right-foot effort dived into the bottom corner in a hurry.
Maddison said.
‘It’s another special goal to add to the collection of mine this season, and it was a match-winning goal again like the one in September, which makes it even better. To get the three points, scoring the winning goal, away from home – I’m delighted. To be fair I think the Brentford goal was better because of the nutmeg before it and the finish, it was just something that I’ve done in training a lot, so to put it into a game and show everyone what I can do is brilliant.’
Don Goodman added.
‘James Maddison has blossomed this season into one of the most talked-about, exciting prospects in the EFL and with goals like this it’s not hard to see why. After a particularly messy phase of play, Maddison’s classy touch, nutmeg and shot stand out even more, such is the beauty in their simplicity.’
Ipswich Town’s Bersant Celina and Millwall’s Steve Morison completed the shortlist.
League One:
Ellis Harrison – Bristol City v Doncaster Rovers – January 27
With his side under late pressure, Harrison delved into his reserves of energy to sprint 60 yards with the ball, leaving defenders in his wake, then driving his shot into the far corner.
Harrison said.
‘We were defending deep, so I picked it up and looked for Gaffs a couple of times, but it just opened up and I got a shooting opportunity. I missed the week before against Bradford so I had to redeem myself. I’m enjoying my football, playing every week so if I can chip in with the goals, that’s great.’
Goodman added.
‘It’s one thing to be left clean through on goal in your own half, but turning that opportunity into a goal isn’t as easy as Ellis Harrison made it look. The goal added the gloss on a good away victory for Darrell Clarke’s Rovers side, as Rory Gaffney was able to return the favour to Harrison who set him up for their second.’
Blackburn Rovers’ Richie Smallwood and Oxford United’s Alex Mowatt completed the shortlist.
League Two:
Maxime Biamou – Coventry City v Swindon Town – January 20
The timing, accuracy and ferocity with which Biamou lashed in a 20-yard shot on the bounce, after his own headed flick-on, made this a worthy first league goal in England.
Biamou said.
‘I’m very happy to win the award, it’s probably the best goal I’ve scored and I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me. When I saw the ball drop it was like a bomb so I wanted to say to my teammates in front of the ball ‘leave it, I’m going to shoot’. Jordan Shipley saw my face and it was like I wanted to put all of my pain in this shot, so I’m very happy to score a fantastic goal.’
Goodman added.
‘When the ball dropped outside the area, Biamou only had one thought in his mind, the strike was clean and perfectly directed into the top corner. Coventry’s resurgent promotion charge has stuttered, as the FA Cup tie against Brighton approaches, so they’ll need all of their strikers to be firing on all cylinders when the League returns.’
Forest Green Rovers’ Dayle Grubb and Accrington Stanley’s Sean McConville completed the shortlist.
