Dundee United boss Mixu Paatelainen has been named Ladbrokes Premiership Manager of Month for February.
The accolade comes hot on the heels of Tangerines midfielder Paul Paton being named Player of the Month with the double award recognition of the resurgence in the club’s fortunes recently.
Paatelainen modestly insisted that others were equally as deserving of credit as himself while paying tribute to the contribution Paton has made since his return to the side after a lengthy lay-off with injury, comparing him to Tannadice legend Dave Bowman.
The manager said: “I am only a small part of last month’s relative success.
“It is the whole club. The players are the most important people, the back-room staff, the coaching staff, everybody.
“They are all part of it.
“We work together and I have always said from day one that the coaches are there to help players and the players are the main people.
“I am also delighted that Paul got the Player of the Month award.
“He totally deserves it as he has been wonderful for us.”
When asked if he saw similarities between Paton and Bowman, Paatelainen said: “They are very similar. Obviously Bow was a ball winner, a difficult player to play against.
“He didn’t shy away from the tackle and Paul is exactly that.
“I don’t know which one would be happy if you start comparing them.
“I’m sure if you talked to Bow he would tell you he played about 10,000 times for this club so Paul has a fair bit to go!
“But they are the important players who do the hard work, the dirty work.
“They are the soul of the team, the base. Everything is based on being solid and difficult to play against.
“Everything springs from that and then the creative players do their bit.
“Paul has been fantastic for us since he came back.
“It is not only out on the pitch that he is an important figure with his physicality and 100% effort. He also talks to the players during matches and in the dressing-room encouraging his team-mates.
“He is a verbal leader and he is also a leader by example.
“Paul is a great guy to have in our ranks.”