Nottingham Forest Manager Sabri Lamouchi has been awarded the Sky Bet Championship EFL Manager of the Month for January after three wins and two draws have kept his side within the promotion chasing pack.

Usually after the award has been announced it synonymously leads to defeat the game after but with Forest already beaten last weekend at Birmingham on the opening day of February we hope that the standard curse that goes with winning manager of the month will already be lifted by the time they take on Leeds tomorrow.

Interestingly BBC Nottingham Sport only today drafted out previous multiple winners of the Championship award from seasons gone by (Lamouchi has now won it twice this season) and 17 of the last 21 managers to have multiple manager of the month wins in a campaign have all gained promotion in the same season that they have done the double scoop.

The four other managers to win the award and not go up did at least make the playoffs which at least puts Lamouchi and Forest in good company heading in to the final weeks of the campaign.

Forest face Leeds tomorrow in what will be a massive match at the City Ground with the Reds just four points behind their second placed opponents who have won just one of their last five league games.

Samba Sow is likely to return after missing out against Birmingham with Lamouchi stating that the match is a hugely important game as both sides chase promotion.

The Frenchman said “We just need to focus on our performance. We’re playing a good team in front of a sold-out City Ground so we need to concentrate on all of the small details because if we don’t, Leeds have the quality and the ability to punish us. They’re a dangerous team both at home and away and whether they play Bamford or Augustin up front, we know they will be tough to beat.”

“I know Leeds have lost quite a few points in recent matches but I’m not sure whether it is a good time to play them or not. It is always tough to play Leeds because they are such an excellent side but we are all looking forward to playing such a big game in front of a full City Ground.”

Kick off at the sold out City Ground is at 5:30pm tomorrow with the match shown live on SKY.

*Main image @SkyFootball Sabri Lamouchi awarded for the month of January.