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Club News

CONNECTIONS | WALSALL

We take a look at some of those to have represented both sides...

6 December 2018

Club News

CONNECTIONS | WALSALL

We take a look at some of those to have represented both sides...

6 December 2018

As the Sky Blues get set to take on Walsall this weekend, we take a look some of those to have represented both sides.

Mark Robins

Current Sky Blues manager Mark Robins started his playing career at Manchester United in 1988, before having spells at clubs including Norwich City, Leicester City, Copenhagen and Panionions.

Robins then joined Walsall in 1999 where he went on to make 40 appearances for the Saddlers. Mark would end up finishing his playing career after making almost 400 career appearances, scoring over 100 goals.

He then went into management and initially took over as caretaker manager at Rotherham United and would secure three wins from six games, moving the club off the bottom of the League One table, and was subsequently made the permanent manager shortly after.
 
A late dip in his first season denied the club an unlikely promotion, and in his second year in charge the club were hit with a 17 point deduction, before he moved on to fellow Yorkshire side Barnsley in 2009.
 
Taking over with the club at the bottom of the table, Robins guided them nine points clear of the drop zone and on a run of eight games unbeaten, finishing in 18th place.
 
The 47-year old joined the Sky Blues in 2012 and soon became a fan-favourite, catapulting them up the league from relegation candidates to play-off contenders. He led the club to the Area Final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and had the highest win percentage of any manager in the club's history with 52.5% at the time of his departure. 
 
Robins left for Huddersfield Town in February 2013, guiding the club to safety on the final day of the season after a 2-2 draw against former side Barnsley. A two-year spell at Scunthorpe United followed, before a return to the Sky Blues.
 
In his first few weeks back with City, Robins led the Sky Blues to victory in the Checkatrade Trophy Final at Wembley, after a 2-1 win over Oxford United.
 
Robins could do nothing to prevent the Sky Blues suffering relegation to League Two, however, this would only last one season, as again he led City to Wembley in the Play-Off Final.
 
The Sky Blues beat Exeter City 3-1 in the final to secure promotion back to League One.

 

Amadou Bakayoko

The Sierra Leone born striker, started his professional career in 2013 at the Saddlers.

Bakayoko made his first loan move to Southport, which he would score on his debut as a substitute and he would then make further loans to AFC Telford United and Worcester City.

After making 93 appearances for Walsall scoring 9 goals, Bakayoko would make his move to the Sky Blues in August 2018 on a two-year deal.

Bakayoko has made 13 appearances for Coventry, scoring 3 goals which were two late finishes vs Charlton Athletic and bagging one against Plymouth.

 

Scott Dann

The Liverpool born defender joined Walsall as a junior in 2003 and the following year he would sign his first professional contract with the club.

Scott then had loan spells at Koge BK, Redditch United, Hednesford Town, before breaking into the Walsall first team, where he helped the club get promoted from League Two as champions in the 2006-07 season.

After 59 appearances for the Saddlers, Dann moved to the Sky Blues in 2008 and he would carry on his impressive form, earning himself a call up to the England Under-21 side. 

Dann became captain of Coventry in the 2008-09 season, before move to Birmingham City in 2009, where he would stay until 2011 leaving for Blackburn Rovers and then eventually joining his current club Crystal Palace in 2014.


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