IT shouldn’t come as any great surprise to Wanderers fans that the club was rather under-represented when League One’s local media representatives were asked to pick their team of the season.

But for a vote for young winger Dennis Politic – and thanks to Andy Turner at Coventry Live for that one – the vast majority of the attention was focused elsewhere.

Wanderers did do one better than Sam Ricketts’ Shrewsbury Town, however, with the Shropshire men the only club which failed to attract a single vote for one of its players.

GK - Marko Marosi (Coventry)

The 6ft 3ins Slovakian stopper has been grabbing headlines in the Midlands this season – keeping 16 clean sheets in league and cup and helping Coventry maintain a season-long challenge for automatic promotion.

He attracted five votes from the 20 journalists polled, edging out Sunderland’s Jon McLaughlin for a place in the Best XI.

RB - Fankaty Dabo (Coventry)

Signed from Chelsea last summer, Dabo is more of a wing-back than a standard full-back, but his fine form for the Sky Blues made him a hugely popular choice in the poll, with 11 votes.

His raids down the right flank this season have been responsible for plenty of Matt Gooden’s goals and whether Coventry go up or not, it would be a surprise if the 24-year-old wasn’t playing at a higher level very soon.

CB - Harry Souttar (Fleetwood)

Now in his second season on loan at Fleetwood from Stoke City, the Scotland-born Australia international defender is clearly maturing into a decent player, getting eight votes.

Souttar has made 31 blocks this season, putting him in third place in League One behind Rochdale’s Eoghan O’Connell (57) and Bristol Rovers’ Tony Craig (39).

Used recently as part of a three-man defence alongside ex-Bolton loanee Callum Connolly and youngster Lewis Gibson, Souttar has helped catapult the Cod Army into promotion contention.

"He's played nearly every game and been first class in everything he's done," his manager Joey Barton recently told BBC Lancs.

CB - Michael Ihiekwe (Rotherham)

Enjoying the most successful season of his career so far, Ihiekwe has turned things around at Rotherham in the last 12 months. Loaned out last year to Accrington, he returned to win back a place in the side and become an integral part of Paul Warne’s back four as the Millers looked to bounce straight back after relegation.

Ikiekwe has won more headers than anyone else in League One with the exception of his Millers team-mate, Michael Smith.

He won 11 votes from the journalists polled. And after picking up an injury at the end of February, it could yet be that the centre-half has time to recover to play a part in the season run-in.

LB - Joe Jacobson (Wycombe)

Wycombe have confounded expectations this season and one of their most consistent performers has been experienced full-back Jacobson.

Getting seven votes to push Oxford’s Josh Ruffels into reserve at left-back, the former Oldham Athletic and Accrington Stanley man has been virtually ever-present for Gareth Ainsworth’s side and even managed an unconventional hat-trick in September comprising of one free-kick and two corners that went directly into the net.

He has also put in more crosses than anyone else in the division – his 2.7 per game putting him ahead of Ipswich’s Luke Garbutt and Rotherham’s Dan Barlaser (both 2.4 per game).

DM - Matt Crooks (Rotherham)

Another ex-Accrington man – perhaps there is something in the water up there in Lancashire? The 6ft 4ins Crooks has been a solid presence in the Rotherham midfield this season and took nine votes in our poll.

Crooks has scored 11 goals and is now starting to realise the potential which once earned him a big move to Glasgow Rangers.

DM - Liam Walsh (Coventry)

Allowed to leave Everton for £1milion in January 2018, Walsh was sent out on loan this season by Bristol City and has proved to be a very good bit of business for Coventry boss Mark Robins.

Taking eight votes in the journalists’ poll, the Liverpool-born 22-year-old has caught the eye with a handful of goals for the Sky Blues – and drawn comparisons within the dressing room to some of the game’s big names.

“I call him Messi,” said team-mate Kyle McFadzean, who also draws similarities between Walsh and one of his former MK Dons team-mates.

“Deli Alli was one of the players I played with but when you look at Liam Walsh, he’s (also) one of the best players I have played with.

“I think (he can go to the) Premier League, me. I really do. He’s really good. Class really. He had his injury earlier in his career but if he hadn’t had that he’d be in the Premier League now.”

RW - Chris Maguire (Sunderland)

One of the driving forces behind Sunderland’s resurgence under Phil Parkinson, Maguire was actually on Bolton’s radar a couple of summers ago.

A set piece specialist, he has put more shots on target from outside the penalty box than anyone else in League One with the exception of Marcus Maddison – who is now on loan at Championship Hull City from Peterborough and Doncaster’s Ben Whiteman, who was desperately unlucky not to make the final cut.

Maguire has travelled a fair few miles on a career that took him to clubs like Aberdeen, Sheffield Wednesday, Oxford, Bury and Rotherham but he has always had the knack of coming up with something special – and that is perhaps why he got the nod from seven of our judges.

AM - James Henry (Oxford)

Henry never quite found a niche in Phil Parkinson’s side at Bolton and will be best remembered for a winning goal against Scunthorpe United on New Year’s Eve in 2016.

Since leaving his parent club, Wolves, the attacking midfielder has managed to find himself a good home at Oxford where he has become a regular source of goals, with 14 in all competitions.

Only Maguire has scored more from outside the penalty box this season, and Henry also has nine assists to his name too. He got eight nominations in our poll.

LW - Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth)

Now a fully-fledged Republic of Ireland international, the Pompey wide man has had a terrific season on the south coast and got nine of the votes available.

Recruited from Derry City in 2018 for a fee reported to be £100,000, the 23-year-old has now scored 11 goals in each of his two seasons at Fratton Park.

His stats show why – Curtis averages three shots per game, which compared favourably to any of the division’s top strikers.

F - Ivan Toney (Peterborough)

Only four of the 20 journalists in the poll failed to name Toney in their line-up – and with valuations ranging between £10 and £14million for the former Newcastle United man, it would be a surprise if he didn’t end up playing at a much higher level of football.

The leading goalscorer in League One with 24 goals in 35 games, Toney has drawn comparisons with the likes of Britt Assombalonga and Dwight Gale at London Road.

“Ivan is different to all the other top strikers I have managed because he can play well as a target man,” said his manager, Darren Ferguson.

“Obviously there is far more to his game than that, but that physicality and strength when you can also play so well technically is a real bonus.”

 

Team of the season

GK - Marko Marosi (Coventry)
RB - Fankaty Dabo (Coventry)
CB - Harry Souttar (Fleetwood)
CB - Michael Ihiekwe (Rotherham)
LB - Joe Jacobson (Wycombe) 
DM - Matt Crooks (Rotherham) 
DM - Liam Walsh (Coventry) 
RW - Chris Maguire (Sunderland) 
AM - James Henry (Oxford) 
LW - Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth) 
F - Ivan Toney (Peterborough)
 

'Second XI' 

GK - John McLaughln (Sunderland)

RB - Lewie Coyle (Fleetwood)

CB - Rob Dickie (Oxford)

CB - Christian Burgess (Portsmouth)

LB - Joe Jacobson (Wycombe)

M - Luke O'Nien (Sunderland)

M - Dan Barlaser (Rotherham)

M - Ben Whiteman (Doncaster)

RF - Siriki Dembele (Peterborough)

CF - Matt Godden (Coventry)

LF - Rhys Healey (MK Dons)

 

The Bolton News:

Player votes according to club (percentage of vote in brackets): Coventry 40 (18.18), Rotherham 34 (15.45), Peterborough 23 (10.45), Oxford 20 (9.09), Portsmouth 18 (8.18), Sunderland 16 (7.27), Fleetwood 15 (6.81), Wycombe 9 (4.09), Doncaster 8 (3.63), Ipsich 6 (2.72), Gillingham 5 (2.27), Rochdale 5 (2.27), Accrington 3 (1.36), Blackpool 3 (1.36), Burton 3 (1.36), MK Dons 3 (1.36), Tranmere 3 (1.36), Lincoln 2 (0.9), Bolton 1 (0.45), Bristol Rov 1 (0.45), Southend 1 (0.45), Wimbledon 1 (0.45), Shrewsbury 0 (0)

 

Shrewsbury – Lewis Cox (Express and Star)

Sanchez (Rochdale)

Vincent-Young (Ipswich)

Ihiekwe (Rotherham)

Ogilvie (Gillingham)

Olosunde (Rotherham)

Browne (Oxford)

Crooks (Rotherham)

Ramsey (Doncaster)

Taylor-Blackett (Tranmere)

Morris (Fleetwood)

Akinde (Gillingham)

 

Accrington – Charlotte Coates (Lancs Telegraph)

Marosi (Coventry)

O’Nien (Sunderland)

Ihiekwe (Rotherham)

Dickie (Oxford)

Coyle (Fleetwood)

Maguire (Sunderland)

Walsh (Coventry)

Crooks (Rotherham)

Curtis (Portsmouth)

Toney (Peterborough)

Dembele (Peterborough)

                                                 

Bristol Rovers – Sam Frost (Bristol Live)

Bonham (Gillingham)

Burgess (Portsmouth)

Souttar (Fleetwood) 

Ihiekwe (Rotherham)

Dabo (Coventry)

Jacobson (Wycombe)

Crooks (Rotherham)

Walsh (Coventry)

Henry (Oxford) 

Toney (Peterbrough)

Healey (MK Dons)

 

Chris Phillips – Southend (Southend Echo)

Marosi (Coventry)

O’Nien (Sunderland),

Burgess (Portsmouth)

Ihiekwe (Rotherham)

Garbutt (Ipswich)

Curtis (Portsmouth)

Dembele (Peteborough)

Sadlier (Doncaster)

Henry (Oxford)

Toney (Peterborough)

Gnanduillet (Blackpool)

 

Liam Hoden – Doncaster (Doncaster Free Press)

Marosi (Coventry)

Coyle (Fleetwood)

Dickie (Oxford)

Tucker (Gillingham)

O'Nien (Sunderland)

Henry (Oxford)

Branagan (Oxford)

O'Hare (Coventry)

Evans (Fleetwood)

Godden (Coventry)

Maguire (Sunderland)

 

Daniel Marsh – AFC Wimbledon (South London Press)

McLaughlin (Sunderland)

Dabo (Coventry)

Ihiekwe (Rotherham)

Souttar (Fleetwood)

Jacobson (Wycombe)

Henry (Oxford)

Barlaser (Rotherham)

Maguire (Sunderland)

Shipley (Coventry)

Curtis (Portsmouth)

Toney (Peterborough)

 

Tranmere – Tom Cavilla (Liverpool Echo)

Marosi (Coventry)

Jacobson (Wycombe)

Souttar (Fleetwood)

Stewart (Wycombe)

Dabo (Coventry)

Curtis (Portsmouth)

Brannagan (Oxford)

Close (Portsmouth)

Ogbene (Rotherham)

Toney (Peterborough)

Godden (Coventry)

 

James Richings – Wycombe (Bucks Free Press)

Blackman (Bristol Rovers)

Dabo (Coventry City)

McFadzean (Coventry City)

Souttar (Fleetwood Town)

Matheson (Rochdale)

McKay (Fleetwood Town)

McCallum (Coventry City)

Huws (Ipswich Town)

Toney (Peterborough United)

Godden (Coventry City)

Norwood (Ipswich Town)

 

 

Peterborough – Alan Swann (Peterborough Telegraph)

Bass (Portsmouth)

Dabo (Coventry)

Souttar (Fleetwood)

Ihiekwe (Rotherham)

Andrew (Fleetwood)

Walsh (Coventry)

Whiteman (Doncaster)

Crooks (Rotherham)

Sadlier (Doncaster)

Gnanduillet (Blackpool)

Maxim Biamou (Coventry)

 

Marc Iles – Bolton (The Bolton News)

McLaughlin (Sunderland)

Dabo (Coventry)

Ihiekwe (Rotherham)

Burgess (Portsmouth)

Ruffels (Oxford)

Walsh (Coventry)

Bridcutt (Lincoln)

Maguire (Sunderland)

Shipley (Coventry)

Curtis (Portsmouth)

Toney (Peterborough)

 

Stuart Watson – Ipswich (EADT)

McLaughlin (Sunderland)

Dabo (Coventry)

Stewart (Wycombe)

Souttar (Fleetwood)

Matthieson (Rochdale)

Barlaser (Rotherham)

Walsh (Coventry)

Curtis (Portsmouth)

Crooks (Rotherham)

Henry (Oxford)

Toney (Peterborough)

 

Mark Whiley  - Lincoln (Lincolnshire Live)

Iversen (Rotherham)

Edwards (Ipswich)

Burgess (Portsmouth)

Ihiekwe (Rotherham)

Jacobson (Wycombe)

Clark (Accrington)

Kelly (Coventry)

Crooks (Rotherham)

Maguire (Sunderland)

Toney (Peterborough)

Godden (Coventry)

 

Luke Cawdell – Gillingham (Kent Online)

Marosi (Coventry) 

Ruffles (Oxford)

Brayford (Burton)

Hyam (Coventry)

Ihiekwe (Rotherham)

Naylor (Portsmouth)

Gorrin (Oxford)

Broadhead (Burton)

Crooks (Rotherham)

Henry (Oxford)

Gnanduillet (Blackpool)

 

David Pritchard – Oxford (Oxford Mail)

Bass (Portsmouth)

Coyle (Fleetwood)

Willis (Sunderland)

Wood (Rotherham)

Jacobson (Wycombe)

Shipley (Coventry)

Fraser (Burton)

Ogbene (Rotherham)

O’Hare (Coventry)

Dembele (Peterborough)

Toney (Peterborough)

 

Phil Smith – Sunderland (Sunderland Echo)

Iversen (Rotherham)

O'Nien (Sunderland)

Ihiekwe (Rotherham)

Dickie (Oxford)

McCallum (Coventry)

Maguire (Sunderland)

Barlaser (Rotherham)

Walsh (Coventry)

Curtis (Portsmouth)

Henry (Oxford)

Toney (Peterborough) 

 

Andy Turner – Coventry (Coventry Live)

Oxley (Southend)

Edwards (Ipswich)

Souttar (Fleetwood)

Wood (Rotherham)

Ruffels (Oxford)

Barlasser (Rotherham)

Whiteman (Doncaster)

Crooks (Rotherham)

Politic (Bolton)

Toney (Peterborough)

Curtis (Portsmouth)

 

Neil Allen – Portsmouth (The News)

McLaughlin (Sunderland)

Dabo (Coventry)

Souttar (Fleetwood)

Monthe (Tranmere)

Butler (Peterborough)

Whiteman (Doncaster)

Barlaser (Rotherham)

Henry (Oxford)

Dembele (Peterborough)

Healey (MK Dons)

Toney (Peterborough)

 

Paul Davis – Rotherham (Rotherham Advertiser)

Sanchez (Rochdale)

Dabo (Coventry)

Bolger (Lincoln)

Sykes (Accrington)

Osew (Wimbledon)

Curtis (Portsmouth)

Walsh (Coventry)

Whiteman (Doncaster)

Healey (MK Dons)

Toney (Peterborough)

Dembele (Peterborough)

 

Matt Scrafton – Blackpool/Fleetwood (Blackpool Gazette)

Sanchez (Rochdale)
Dabo (Coventry)
Ihiekwe (Rotherham)
Dickie (Oxford)
Jacobson (Wycombe)
Walsh (Coventry)
Crooks (Rotherham)
Whiteman (Doncaster)
Browne (Oxford)
Ferrier (Tranmere)
Toney (Peterborough)

 

Toby Lock – MK Dons (MK Citizen)
Evtimov (Accrington)

Jacobson (Wycombe)

Ihiekwe (Rotherham)

Dabo (Coventry)

Fuller (Gillingham)

O'Nien (Sunderland)

Gooch (Sunderland)

Shipley (Coventry)

Ladapo (Rotherham)

Toney (Peterborough)

Eisa (Peterborough)