READING FC boss Jaap Stam has been crowned the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for January.

It is the third time this season Stam has been shortlisted after missing out on the award in September and November.

But the Dutchman beat off stiff competition from Cardiff's Neil Warnock, Wolves boss Paul Lambert and Norwich City's Alex Neil to land trophy this time around.

Royals picked up four wins from six league games during January including an incredible victory at Bristol City where Stam's men fought back from 2-0 down with 18 minutes left to triumph 3-2.

Stam beamed: "It’s an honour to win the trophy, but no manager can do it on their own.

"You need to have people around you to help you out, staff who have the knowledge and can pass it on to the team to help us get results.

“And if the players don’t perform, we don’t win a trophy like this!

"So I have to thank them as well because we get recognition thanks to their hard work, the performances they have been producing and the results we are picking up."

January's run also saw Reading cement their position in the Championship play-offs and pull further clear of the chasing pack below.

That was enough to convince the Sky Bet panel, which includes former Ipswich Town manager George Burley plus West Brom, Wolves and Sunderland player, Don Goodman, to hand the January award to Stam.

And Goodman said he expects Stam's men to keep piling the pressure on the top two teams, Newcastle and Brighton, from here on in the race for automatic promotion.

"Jaap completely overhauled Reading’s style in the summer and the fruits of his labour are definitely paying dividends," stated Goodman.

"Brighton & Newcastle look to be safe for the automatic promotion places, but for first time in a long while, the gap between them and the chasing pack is bridgeable.

"Stam’s side are capable of stringing wins together and putting pressure on the top two and as we know, anything can happen in the Championship.”

Reading will be searching for a fourth win in five league matches when they host Barnsley tomorrow (3pm ko).