Michael Dunlop scoops Ladbrokes League 1 Player of the Month award
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Michael Dunlop is keen to share his Ladbrokes League 1 Player of the Month award for January with his centre-back partner and brother, Ross.
The Albion Rovers captain, 34, was rewarded with the monthly award after helping his side to a strong month, winning two games and drawing the other in the league.
That included a win away at rivals Airdrieonians and a great draw with promotion challengers Alloa, as well as a goal for the experienced defender in their win over Brechin.
But Dunlop refuses to take all of the credit – dedicating the award to his team-mates, particularly his younger sibling.
The pair started playing together four years ago and that’s when Dunlop believes his award-winning form began.
Speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes News, he said: “I’m over the moon – I wasn’t expecting it at all. Usually it’s the attacking players that get these kind of awards.
“It’s good recognition for the club after a good month.
“This is the first Player of the Month I’ve had. As long as the teams winning is the most important thing, but if you’re fortunate enough to win some individual awards along the way then that’s great. The last three years I’ve been in the Team of the Year so that was a great honour.
“This is just another excellent achievement and I’m proud of it.
“Our team has no superstars – we really are the epitome of a team. So this is a great recognition of the team because without these guys beside you you’re not going to get these types of awards.”
On his brother, Dunlop believes this is an award they’ll share at home.
He added: “We didn’t start playing together until I was 30 and I never won any of these individual awards before that.
“So there must be something in that.
“Playing beside him gave me a new enthusiasm because he’s seven years younger than me and he’d just came from the juniors.
“You’re wanting to try and show him good habits as well as playing well yourself to help bring his game on.
“Don’t get me wrong, he’s done it himself. The way he’s progressed over the last four years has been excellent – it’s a real testament to him. But I’m trying to think about how I can help bring him on and we’ve formed a really good, successful partnership.
“So I’ve said to him this is a Dunlop brothers award together.”
Dunlop and Rovers will be hoping to follow-up with an away victory against Peterhead this weekend with our odds-compilers making them 11/4 to do just that.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
