Sunderland boss Alex Neil has been nominated for April's League One Manager of the Month award - with Nathan Broadhead in the running for Player of the Month. Under Neil, the Black Cats collected 17 points from seven games in an unbeaten final month of the campaign, registering home victories against Gillingham, Shrewsbury, and Cambridge, and on the road at Oxford and Morecambe. They also drew at home to Rotherham and also at Plymouth.
That helped Sunderland secure a fifth-place finish and entry into the play-offs, from where they have subsequently booked their place in the final at Wembley. Neil has been nominated alongside Wycombe's Gareth Ainsworth - his opposite number in the play-off final - Sheffield Wednesday's Darren Moore, who lost out to Sunderland over two legs in the play-off semi-final, and Morecambe's Derek Adams, who the Black Cats beat on the final day of the season.
Broadhead returned at the beginning of April following a month-long injury lay-off, and he went on to score five goals in seven games in the run-in. He scored a late winner at home to Gillingham, and twice in the 3-2 home win against Shrewsbury - including another late winner.
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The on-loan Everton striker also scored in the 5-1 win against Cambridge on Wearside, and the only goal against Morecambe which guaranteed that Sunderland would qualify for the play-offs under their own steam. He has been nominated for the award alongside Sheffield Wednesday's Lee Gregory, Wigan Athletic's Will Keane, and MK Dons' Scott Twine.
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