MIDDLESBROUGH bagged a double award yesterday as manager Tony Mowbray and skipper Matthew Bates were respectively awarded the npower Championship manager and player of the month for September.

Of Bates’ award, Mowbray said: “Matthew has played an integral role as captain and central defender in a team that has kept four clean sheets during September.

“Such an achievement is always a collective effort, of course, but Matthew has led by example and richly deserves this honour.”

Alan Curbishley, who chaired the judging panel which gave Mowbray his award, said of the Boro boss: “Middlesbrough have continued their great start to this season as Mowbray’s men remain unbeaten in the Championship.

“With Boro not conceding a single goal this month, I am sure they will prove hard to beat this campaign.”