Exeter City forward ends month with five assists and two goals
Exeter City forward Ollie Watkins has picked up the Sky Bet League Two player of the month award for January.
Ollie beat off competition from Doncaster Rovers striker John Marquis, Morecambe goalkeeper Barry Roche and Mansfield Town loanee Ben Whiteman to collect the accolade.
“I haven’t actually got a Sky Bet award,” said a delighted Ollie. “I won a different one last year (The Football League Young Player of the Month award), so this is another one ticked off the list and I hope I can get many more.”
However, the modest 21-year-old, who was also nominated for the December League Two player of the month, said that he felt fellow teammate David Wheeler was unlucky not to get picked for his performances. Wheeler scored in every game for City during the first month of this year.
“I am happy to pick up the award, but I think David Wheeler should have won it,” added Ollie. “He has been magnificent for us and I do think he has been a little bit robbed. I think December was my better month when I got the hat-trick at Newport.
“I probably deserved to get it that month, but that is the way it falls and Dave is not a player that it will let effect him and hopefully he is just going to keep going and scoring.”
It could be argued that Ollie has been rewarded for his all-round play in January as, although he scored five in four games during December, last month he actually contributed to more balls hitting the back of the net as he made five assists and scored twice. Three of those assists came in a stunning display at home to Colchester United that the Grecians won 3-0.
“I am very happy that I have assisted those goals and I have brought that into my game,” said Ollie. “I am pleased with that and I hope that I can keep bringing that to the team.”
Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale was also nominated for the January manager of the month award having picked up a maximum points haul of 15 from five games. However, he missed out to Doncaster Rovers' Darren Ferguson. It is the 10th time in his career that Paul has been nominated for the accolade, but he is still yet to win.