Watford double up in monthly Premier League awards

Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo in scintillating form for last year’s promoted side

Watford’s Odion Ighalo in action against Manchester City. Photograph: Paul Childs/Reuters
Watford’s Odion Ighalo in action against Manchester City. Photograph: Paul Childs/Reuters

Striker Odion Ighalo was named the Premier League's player of the month for December and Quique Sanchez Flores bagged the managerial award to give Watford a notable double.

The Hornets, who are 10th in the table, suffered one defeat, by Tottenham Hotspur, in five games last month, beating Norwich City 2-0 and Liverpool 3-0 at home, Sunderland 1-0 away and drawing 2-2 with champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Ighalo struck five times for the Hornets, with a brace against Liverpool and goals against Norwich, Sunderland and Tottenham.

The Nigeria international will seek to add to his tally of 14 goals this season when Watford travel to fourth-bottom Swansea City on Monday.