It will almost certainly be third time lucky for Boro head coach Aitor Karanka as the Spaniard looks destined to be named Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for January.
Boro enjoyed a dream January, keeping hold of their first-team stars while also extending Patrick Bamford’s loan deal and recruiting Tomas Kalas and Adam Forshaw.
Meanwhile, on the pitch, Boro won five of their six matches - a draw at Reading the only slight mark on Karanka’s perfect slate.
FA Cup victories at Barnsley and Manchester City won’t be considered for the monthly award, but successive wins against Huddersfield, Cardiff and Brentford means Karanka claimed 10 points from a possible 12 in the Championship last month.
That is more than any other manager in the league and surely will result in the Spaniard’s third Manager of the Month nomination this season, having lost out to Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe on two occasions.
Brentford boss Mark Warburton is also likely to be nominated, having picked up nine points from a possible 12. The Bees had won their last three league matches before the 1-0 defeat to Boro on Saturday.
Steve McClaren also has nine points to his name with the 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest being the Rams’ only slip-up.
Meanwhile Leeds United head coach Neil Redfearn could be included amongst the nominees, with Leeds winning twice and drawing twice in the league last month.
That’s a record matched by Wolves boss Kenny Jackett - a run of form that has seen them draw to within two points of the play-offs.
How many points did each Championship manager/team pick up in January?
Aitor Karanka (Boro) - 10 pts out of 12
Mark Warburton (Brentford) - 9 pts out of 12
Steve McClaren (Derby) - 9 pts out of 12
Neil Redfearn (Leeds) - 8 pts out of 12
Kenny Jackett (Wolves) - 8 pts out of 12
Alex Neil (Norwich) - 7 pts out of 12
Eddie Howe (Bournemouth) - 6 pts out of 12
Slavisa Jokanovic (Watford) - 6 pts out of 12
Gary Rowett (Birmingham) - 6 pts out of 12
Lee Clark (Blackpool) - 6 pts out of 12
Kit Symons (Fulham) - 6 pts out of 12
Chris Powell (Huddersfield) - 6 pts out of 12
Chris Hughton (Brighton) - 6 pts out of 12
Neil Lennon (Bolton) - 5 pts out of 12
Steve Clarke (Reading) - 5 pts out of 12
Mick McCarthy (Ipswich) - 4 pts out of 12
Gary Bowyer (Blackburn) - 4 pts out of 12
Stuart Gray (Sheffield Wednesday) - 4 pts out of 12
Steve Evans (Rotherham) - 4 pts out of 12
Ian Holloway (Millwall) - 4 pts out of 12
Russell Slade (Cardiff) - 3 pts out of 12
Stuart Pearce (ex-Nottingham Forest) - 3 pts out of 12
Guy Luzon (Charlton) - 2 pts out of 9
Malky Mackay (Wigan) - 2 pts out of 12
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