February saw Newcastle and Brighton continue to trade blows in an attempt to win the Championship title, but the form of Huddersfield will have them both glancing over their shoulders.

David Wagner’s Terriers picked up five wins and a draw during the month to get to within six points of the top two, although their 3-1 defeat to Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle in the first game of March has seriously hindered their automatic promotion chances.

It’s also looking good for Leeds as far as the play-offs are concerned, but Reading and Sheffield Wednesday slipped up towards the end of the month, allowing in-form Fulham to close the gap on the final spot to only five points.

Rotherham will almost certainly be in League One next season, as they sit 16 points behind 21st placed Bristol City, who themselves are neck and neck with Blackburn Rovers.

It’s looking like two from City, Rovers, Wigan Athletic, Wolves, Burton Albion and Nottingham Forest will join the Millers next season in the third tier, in what is shaping up to be one of the closest relegation battles the Championship has seen in years.

In what was a thrilling month of action in the second tier, here are Shoot!’s Championship Player, Manager and Goal of the Month awards for February…

Player of the Month: Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United)

Newcastle ended February top of the Championship table and were unbeaten throughout the month.

Matt Ritchie, the summer signing from Bournemouth, has been a key player for the Toon army and chipped in with vital goals against QPR and Derby, taking his tally to eight for the season, alongside seven assists.

The 27-year-old was a superb signing by Rafa Benitez, and both he and the club he signed for look set for an immediate return to the top division.

Manager of the Month: David Wagner (Huddersfield Town)

Is it a two horse race for the Championship title? David Wagner’s Huddersfield team will tell you otherwise.

The Terriers are the form team in the division at the moment. It wasn’t just a case of five straight wins and a draw during February either that truly impresses, but the fact that they had a tough fixture list.

They ended the month just behind Brighton and just ahead of Leeds and Reading, all teams that they dispatched of during their fine run, and Wagner has also overseen tight victories against sides at the other end of the table in the form of QPR and Rotherham.

These have all been crucial results that have the Terriers hot on the heels of both Brighton and Newcastle.

Goal of the Month: Jonny Howson (NORWICH CITY v Nottingham Forest)

Norwich City thumped Nottingham Forest 5-1 at Carrow Road back on February 11, but it was the first of the six which was the pick of the bunch.

After just ten minutes, Forest could only half clear a corner to the edge of the penalty area, where Canaries midfielder Jonny Howson was waiting for the ball to drop.

The 28-year-old then struck an unstoppable volley past the despairing Stephen Henderson to give Alex Neil’s side an early lead, and one that built on as the game progressed.

What a strike from Howson!