The Bees played eight Championship games in December and won five of them. The other three were drawn to ensure Brentford were unbeaten through the month and that was enough to earn Thomas, on behalf of the squad, the award.

The Bees picked up 18 points in their eight games, scoring 16 goals and conceding just eight, and made history by reaching a first ever major cup Semi Final with victory over Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup. There were home wins over Reading and AFC Bournemouth, who are in the top six in the table, as well as away victories against Rotherham United, Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City.

Speaking about his award, Thomas said: “This award is one for the team. No Manager or Head Coach will win an award like this without a great team of staff and players going in the same direction. I think that is my job, to ensure everyone is pulling together, and I am delighted that, as a team, we have won this award.

“We played nine games in December and were unbeaten. That is a fantastic achievement. Across the whole of Europe, no team has played more games than Brentford this season. It takes a big effort from everyone to continue to perform to such a high level and everyone should be really proud.”

The Bees ended the month second in the table and sit fourth now as they were not in action last Saturday. The month also included an away draw with Watford after playing more than half hour with ten men.

Thomas beat Daniel Farke, of Norwich City, Valerien Ismael, of Barnsley, and Alex Neil, of Preston North End. The Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel comprises former Barnsley manager Danny Wilson, Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman, EFL Communications Director Mark Rowan, and Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies.