Benitez Wins Manager Of The Month Award

His side swept all before them as a perfect five wins from five games took them to the top of the table.

As impressive as the variety of their attacking play was the delight his players took in conceding just two goals.

Benitez said: "I'm really pleased. As a manager when you win a trophy it means that your staff, your players, the people who work in the club, they are working very hard.

"So I think they also deserve this award and it's important for everyone here."

George Burley chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel. He said: "Newcastle United were strong favourites for promotion before the season started and their 100 per cent record in October has taken them to the top of the Championship.

"Rafa has built a squad which is now looking very formidable and has all the qualities required to regain their place in the Premier League."

Sky Sports' EFL pundit Don Goodman added: "Rafa's Newcastle team were unstoppable in October, bulldozing every team that was unfortunate enough to have to take them on.

"Eleven goals for and just two against tell the story of arguably the only team in this season's Championship capable of pulling away from the rest."

Sky Bet Football Trading Manager Paul Lowery said: "Our traders were amazed at how short the odds on Newcastle to win this year's Championship were entering the season, with the Magpies priced at just 9/4.

"It was widely acknowledged that they would have an extremely strong squad and a big budget, as well as a fantastic home advantage due to their huge fanbase, but the club was out of the winning mentality and falling into a division widely considered as the most difficult in world football.

"Benitez deserves huge credit for keeping the squad together and employing a style of play that is suited to the Championship, encompassed for me by their gritty 1-0 win at Rotherham to start the month."