Freedman in running for poisoned chalice of manager of the month (From Croydon Guardian)

Eagles boss not out to win monthly accolades

10:18am Monday 1st October 2012 in Sport By Tim Ashton

Crystal Palace boss Dougie Freedman says that the poisoned chalice that is the Football League manager of the month award would be a bonus rather than a curse.

Freedman has overseen a September where Palace have gone unbeaten, beating Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff City, and drawing with Nottingham Forest, at Selhurst Park, and taking all the points from trips to London rivals Charlton Athletic and, most recently, from Bolton Wanderers.

The record is all the more impressive given the Eagles had lost four consecutive games going into September, and they are also the only team in the Championship to not lose in the month.

However, football folklore hints that winning manager of the month is cursed and that upon receiving the accolade, performances and results slide - a myth Freedman does not entertain.

The Scot said: "These little things are bonuses for the club, they're not in any way a bad thing.

"We won it last year [Nathaniel Clyne - October player of the month) when we went on our cup run and where certain players were performing very well and got the attention they deserved.

"I don’t set out to be manger of the month, I just set out to win games and if people come up with these small things it is just a bonus for the club and gets it in the paper in the right kind of way."

The award is unlikely to be dished out before this weekend, so if you do believe it is cursed, Palace will continue their good form tomorrow night at Wolverhampton Wanderers and then this weekend at home to Burnley.

However, should Freedman win the prize, his first opponents as manager of the month would be arch rivals Millwall.