Carlisle United's Paul Simpson and Kristian Dennis have missed out on a pair of awards.

The Blues duo have been overlooked in the latest SkyBet League Two manager and player of the month running.

Simpson lost out to Colchester United's Matt Bloomfield for the manager prize.

And Dennis was pipped by Salford City's Conor McAleny for the player award.

Both Blues men were shortlisted for their part in an impressive January at Brunton Park.

Colchester's Bloomfield, though, edged the manager award with the Essex side gaining more points than the Blues last month.

News and Star: Matt Bloomfield, left, and Conor McAlenyMatt Bloomfield, left, and Conor McAleny (Image: SkyBet / EFL)

They earned 13 points from six league games, compared with United's 12 from five.

McAleny, meanwhile, enjoyed a prolific January, scoring six goals in six league games for Salford, compared with Dennis's five in five.

READ MORE: Peter Murphy's verdict on Blues teenager's progress at Annan

It means United are yet to claim any of the official SkyBet monthly awards this season despite their impressive progress to third in the table.

Bloomfield paid tribute to his colleagues at Colchester and said: "Any successful football club is exactly that – a club. And it’s only right for me to say thank you for the way they’ve accepted me over the last four months and bought into what we’re trying to do.”

Of McAleny, meanwhile, Sky Sports' EFL pundit Don Goodman said: "The Salford striker’s had it tough over the last couple of years, so to see him burst into the limelight with six goals in seven games was incredibly pleasing and it’s arguably one of the best stories of the entire campaign."

United marksman Dennis, though, still has the chance of a January trophy since he is shortlisted for the PFA Vertu Motors player of the month award.

Fans can vote for the striker HERE

United boss Simpson said yesterday of the Blues' glut of nominations: “It's great for the football club that we are actually getting recognised for what we're all doing,” he said.

“I don't worry about personal awards too much. They're always nice, but it just shows the work that everybody's putting in as a whole football club.

“It's not just me, it's not just the individual player. Kristian Dennis is scoring goals because of the supply that he's getting. Me as a manager, I'm only as good as the staff around the football club.

“We're only as good as everybody who works here and everybody's doing the right things. Hopefully we can keep doing it.”