Carlisle United boss John Ward has been named League One Manager of the Month for March after leading the Cumbrians to five wins and two draws.Ward, who took over at Brunton Park last October, has steered Carlisle to second in League One, with third-placed Doncaster three points behind having played a game more.

Carlisle started March with a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest and followed that up with victories over Brighton and Luton.

After a draw at Swindon, Ward's men beat Leyton Orient and Northampton before closing the month with a 0-0 stalemate at Gillingham.

Although April started with a 2-0 home defeat to Forest, the Cumbrians remain in pole position to grab an automatic promotion spot.

February's Manager of the Month accolade also went the way of Ward after a five-match unbeaten sequence during the month.

Ward's successor at Cheltenham Town - Keith Downing - was among his rivals for March's prize, along with Doncaster's Sean O'Driscoll and Southend's Steve Tilson.

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