Mick lands 'Manager of the Month' award for March
Mick McCarthy has been named the Championship's manager of the month for March, after steering Sunderland to the top of the table.
The Black Cats have won four out of four in March and it means they go into April two points clear of their main rivals Wigan and five ahead of Ipswich in third place.
But McCarthy, who has gone close to the award three times this season, will not be celebrating.
Instead his mind is firmly fixed on trying to steer Sunderland, who have won their last six games, to victory at QPR on Saturday - and stopping the dreaded manager of the month curse striking again.
McCarthy's last manager of the month award came exactly 12 months ago in the build-up to Sunderland's FA Cup semi-final meeting with Millwall, which they lost.
"I'll have to apologise to the players for getting it," he joked. "It's come a month early. I'd like to get it for April because of the games we have coming up.
"It's often looked upon as the kiss of death but I'll have to put that one to bed. I've got it and there's not a lot I can do. Tony Pulis [Stoke City manager] got it last month and Stoke won a couple afterwards so it gives us all hope.
"I've said I'll accept it on behalf of the players - it's a team game. Not because they deserve it, so I can apportion the blame!"
Sky's Chris Kamara, who helped choose the winners for the Coca-Cola award, said: "Mick has steered Sunderland to four wins out of four in March. They are top of the table and this is when you want to be winning manager of the month.
"It's been a long time coming for Sunderland. They've been like the bridesmaids this season but not now. It's a tremendous achievement to overhaul long-time pacesetters Wigan and Ipswich.
"They are there to be shot at and they've got the pressure to handle. There's still a long way to go."
McCarthy was shortlisted with QPR's Ian Holloway, Paul Jewell of Wigan and Gillingham's Stan Ternent.
The manager of the month awards panel was headed Sky Sports pundit Kamara, former World Cup referee Jack Taylor and John Barnwell, Chief Executive of the League Managers Association.
