Queens Park Rangers manager Steve McClaren has been named the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for October.

The scrutiny was sharp in late summer after a poor start, but McClaren quietly trusted his methods and his players to steer Rangers into the top half with an October haul of 13 points from five unbeaten games.

McClaren said: “I have got to say the response of the players has been good, but the main factor we’ve had such a good October was the staff I have got around me.

“It is all about people, it is all about players, it is all about staff and the staff have been absolutely magnificent.

“We could have crumbled after four games, but they stuck together, we all did. Matty Gardiner, John Eustace, Gavin Ward, the Sports Science team behind, the medics who are keeping the players fit and everybody at this training ground, everybody at the stadium, even the supporters are sticking together.”

George Burley chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel.

He said: “QPR have shown the importance of keeping faith in the manager and, after a dreadful start to the season, they have now pushed themselves into the top half of the table.

“Steve made some astute loan signings just before the window closed and that helped him have an unbeaten run of games in October, collecting 13 points along the way.”

Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “For Steve McClaren, the QPR job comes not only as a chance to rebuilt the club, to but also to rebuilt his reputation after several disappointingly short stints at English clubs.

“He’ll be hoping there’s many more months like October, where his side utilised defensive solidity, with the only goal they conceded all month, against Derby, denying them a perfect record.”

Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies said: “After a slow start to the season Steve McClaren has turned things around at Loftus Road. The Hoops managed to win four games and draw the other in October as QPR shot up the Championship table.

“They will be looking up and not down now as they are 18/1 for promotion from 50/1 at the start of the month and are out to 33/1 to be relegated from 9/2 at the start of the month.”