Lamouchi replaced Martin O'Neill in charge at the City Ground this summer and has made a very promising start to his tenure.

After losing the first game of the season, Forest have gone ten league matches unbeaten and are currently second in the Championship, level on points with leaders West Brom - the team who beat them on the opening day.

The new boss has guided Forest to three wins from their three league matches in September, securing the Championship Manager of the Month award as a result.

And, European Cup winner Birtles believes Lamouchi thoroughly deserved to win the accolade and is confident that he can win it again in October.

However, he insisted that the Frenchman cannot afford to get distract by winning the award and that he must concentrate on ensuring the Reds don't slip up.

"Sabri Lamouchi’s Manager of the Month award was entirely deserved last week, and further emphasises just what a great start to life in England he’s had," Birtles told the Nottingham Post.

"I know people often talk about the dreaded curse that goes with winning Manager of the Month and I’m sure Lamouchi would have been warned about it, not that I’d expect him to give it a second thought.

"Instead of thinking about any possible curse and allowing a negative slant to come into things, I’d be thinking about winning it again next month. You’d have to say, if Forest win their next three games before the end of the month, I’d suggest he’d have a very good chance again."

The Verdict

I couldn't agree more with Birtles here. Lamouchi has done an excellent job since taking charge at Forest and he thoroughly deserved to win the manager of the month award.

I must admit, I didn't know too much about him before he took charge at the City Ground, but I've been really impressed with the signings that he's made and the way he's been able to get the best out of the players so far.

As Birtles says, Lamouchi will be pleased to have won the award and it shows just what a good job he's done, but he cannot afford to let it distract him. He needs to make sure the Forest continue their momentum, starting with their game against Wigan this weekend.

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