West Ham at the Double as Sam Allardyce and Sakho Claim EPL's Monthly Prize

ENGLAND

Big Sam and West Ham new forward sensation showing off their top prize for the month

West Ham United's transformation under Sam Allardyce was recognised on Friday when he was named Premier League Manager of the Month after three straight league wins in October.

There was a double celebration for the east London club too as Diafra Sakho, one of a number of exciting new arrivals in the summer, was named the league's Player of the Month after scoring a goal in each of the three victories.

The award for Allardyce, 60, represents a remarkable turnaround for the manager who was booed and jeered by many West Ham fans last season for what they took as unimaginative boring football, and an uninspired final 13th place finish in the table. 

Allardyce told Sky Sports: "The most pleasing thing of all is that we have managed to pull all the new players together and fitted them into a team that is playing very well at the moment and enjoying their football and getting some exceptionally good results."

West Ham are currently fifth in the standings and beat Queens Park Rangers, Burnley and champions Manchester City during October before coming from two goals down to force a 2-2 draw at Stoke City last weekend.