A scintillating November has seen Rovers forward Sammie Szmodics awarded his flowers with the Sky Bet Championship’s Player of the Month award, after netting six goals in four games!
The fan favourite, who penned a new deal with the club last week, has surged to the top of both, the club & the league’s goalscoring charts with 14 league strikes in the 19 games that Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side have played this season, which is a testament to Szmodics’ ability to find the back of the net, as well as his teammates’ to continually pick him out.
Whilst boss, Jon Dahl Tomasson was also in contention for the managerial award, but missed out, Szmodics managed to hit the target once again by scooping the award against a very talented line-up who were also battling for the trophy which included: ex-Rover, Adam Armstrong – (who was the last Rovers player to win a monthly prize) – Hull City winger Jaden Philogene and Huddersfield Town’s Polish defender Michal Helik.
Szmodics shows no signs of slowing down as he has quickly evolved into the main man at Ewood Park with his pivotal displays on the pitch counting for more than the goals he puts in the back of opposition goalkeeper’s nets, as he has been relentless lauded for his work-rate, by both supporters and his Danish boss.
After getting his hands on the second monthly award of his career – with his last coming in January 2018 whilst at Colchester United in League Two – the enigmatic attacker reflected on what had been a fine month for both himself and his teammates:
“I feel like I had a really good month scoring six goals in four games. My confidence is high, I’ve been playing well, the team’s been playing well and I think I deserve it. I’m over the moon with it.
“I think I’ve hit a real purple patch and I’m playing the best football I’ve ever played. That’s down to my team-mates and down to the manager. I feel like my confidence is high and that’s been showing by good performances and six goals. It’s the understanding of how the manager wants to do things and the freedom he allows you to play with.
“Last season was my first season and it was all about getting used to a new team, new tactics and how the manager wants to do it. There’s no excuses this season. I know exactly what to do, how the manager wants to do it, and I’ve taken my form from last season into this season. Long may that continue.”
Jon Dahl Tomasson was also full of praise for his number #8, highlighting his pivotal nature to the team:
“Sammie has a real willingness to get better and he is now playing at a really high level. He has a fantastic attitude and a great work ethic, and is now adding more and more goals to his game, which is great to see.
“He’s very good at finding space, running in behind, creating chances and he knows how to score goals. Above all, he works hard for the team, which is one of his biggest qualities.
“The award is well deserved. He’s scored in five consecutive games and I think he’s playing his best football ever, which is great to see.
“He’s a great lad, a great player and he wants the best for Rovers, his teammates and the fans!”
Congratulations, Sammie!
