Gillingham's Martin Allen with his League 2 January manager of the month award Picture: Andy Payton

Gillingham manager Martin Allen has been awarded the League 2 manager-of-the-month award for January.

The Gills picked up 10 points from a possible 15 during a month which saw them enjoy wins at Bristol Rovers and Southend.

Gillingham hit back from a home defeat to Port Vale by drawing with York City and beating Northampton Town.

Also in the running were AFC Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley and John Ward, whose side lost 2-0 at home to Allen’s Gills.

Speaking about the club’s achievements during the month, boss Martin Allen said: “10 points from 15 is a great return. It’s great and it’s for all the people at the football club who helped me, all the players, especially the staff.

“That’s obviously Championship winning form but because of this grey cloud over everyone, because we didn’t play well on the television against Wycombe, for 15 minutes at the end for the game, people are saying ‘how the hell did you get nominated for manager-of-the-month?

“We got 10 from 15 so we aren’t doing too badly. Just imagine how grey those clouds are elsewhere at all those other football clubs. The sun is shining and we are doing well. Let’s get another 10 from the next 15 and then another 10 and then its job done.

“It’s great for our club but we need to just keep everyone on that nice even keel and keep ticking along. We just got four points in Yorkshire, two clean sheets and we are doing great.”

Allen has often spoke of the necessity of keeping calm when things don’t go well. And his side displayed their ability to bounce back from disappointment.

Since losing to Wycombe at home they took a point off York City and beat Bradford, both away from Priestfield.

Allen said: “It’s about how you cope with it and how you deal with it. How do you deal with that last 20 minutes against Wycombe Wanderers at home? Live on Sky to the nation? It wasn’t great but all our players bounced back and we had loads of supporters at Bradford. We put on a fantastic performance to win 1-0.

“It is typical human behaviour that people would rather talk about the Wycombe game rather than saying what a fantastic win it was at Bradford, going up there against a side who had recently beaten Aston Villa over two legs, Arsenal and beaten Wigan.

“We go up there get a clean sheet and win 1-0. Let those people moan and have a go, of course we can’t ignore what happened at the Wycombe game, but I would rather talk about the positive things.”

And speaking to the press from the top floor of the Medway Stand, he added: “As I look out of the window 90% of the sky is grey cloud and horrible and doom and gloom. But I can see the sunshine coming through and it’s much nicer to look at that.

“Our players have been so special, they have been absolutely fantastic, on and off the field, their behaviour and conduct and professionalism in Yorkshire was different class. Let’s look at the nice parts rather than the doom and gloom. All that does is send you downhill.”