Matchday Memories: On This Day 2019- See Sky Blue ‘Baka’ & Zain Pen Catch Out Cod Army
CCFC Manager Mark Robins
On this day (23rd October) four years ago in 2019 goals from two CCFPA members now Amadou Bakayoko and a penalty from Zain Westbrooke gave Mark Robins‘ Sky Blues a 2-1 win at St Andrews against Fleetwood Town. With the win Mark Robins men leapfrogged the Cod Army into League One‘s fourth place recovering from going 1-0 down to beat Joey Barton‘s Cod Army whilst CCFC were in exile at their ‘home from home’ at St Andrew’s. There was a paltry crowd of only 4,673 fans (including less than a hundred away team visitors) there to watch the game.
Zain in the Sky Blue
Amadou Bakayoko in the Sky Blue
Fleetwood put the Sky Blues under sustained pressure throughout the game and our ‘keeper Marko Marosi had to make some fine saves. The visitors deserved lead came through a tap in from a post rebound from the Cod Army’s in-form striker Paddy Madden after nine minutes.
However, two second-half goals in eight minutes from Amadou and Zain were enough to see the Sky Blues move to within three points of new leaders Peterborough United, Ipswich Town and Wycombe Wanderers. Fleetwood fell foul of a CCFC equaliser on 59 minutes when a fierce half-volley from just inside the box from our left-back (now a CCFPA member) Sam McCallum‘s was well saved by Fleetwood’s ‘keeper Alex Cairns, and ‘Baka’ smashed home the rebound.
Max & Zain
Zain celebrates his penalty goal
In a complete turnaround, Coventry then got the winner on 67 minutes when (another Association member now) Max Biamou was fouled in the box by Jimmy Dunne and midfielder Zain stepped up to the plate to calmly slot home his penalty past Cairns.
CCFC’s contemporary report of the game can be found by clicking here. Thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson you can watch some match highlights by clicking on the link or image below
The two sides lined up as follows:-
Sky Blues:- Fleetwood Town:-
The following Sky Blues players from this game are now Association members:- Sam McCallum, Dom Hyam, Zain Westbooke, Jordan Shipley, Amadou Bakayoko and Max Biamou. The Cod Army’s unused substitute Peter Clarke had a loan spell at Highfield Road in 2004. The referee was Michael Salisbury.
CCFC 2019-20 League One Champs
Richard Wood in the Sky Blue
As all true Sky Blues fans know well this fantastic playing season for the Sky Blues was truncated ten games early by the coronavirus health emergency. There was time to get a 0-0 draw in Fleetwood at the end of January 2020 in the return game. All’s well that ends well, however, as the season ended, quite rightly, with the Sky Blues being awarded the League One title.
After all, they were five points clear of the chasing pack with a game in hand on most. Runners up Rotherham United (captained by former Sky Blue, and CCFPA member, Richard Wood) were also automatically promoted. Wycombe Wanderers joined them via the playoffs after making it into the top six via a goals per game adjustment. Sixth placed Fleetwood Town missed out.
It was Tranmere Rovers, Southend United and Bolton Wanderers who took the drop.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.
