By Aston Villa FC

Dean Smith has been nominated for the Premier League’s December Manager of the Month award.

The Aston Villa head coach guided his side through the month unbeaten, winning three times and drawing twice, as they ended 2020 in fifth place.

Adding to the unbeaten run, Smith’s side scored eight goals and conceded just once during the month – keeping a league-high four clean sheets.

Back-to-back 3-0 victories against Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion helped catapult the team up the table.

Smith is up against Everton’s Carlo Ancelotti, Burnley’s Sean Dyche and Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the award.

It’s the third time that the Villa boss has been nominated for the accolade this season after he was among the nominees in September and November, eventually missing out to Ancelotti to Nuno Espirito Santo respectively.

Voting closes at 6pm on Monday 11 January.