 Following Paatelainen's departure, new manager John Hughes moved Bamba back to a central defensive role after the departure of Rob Jones in the 2009 season.In his second match in this position, Bamba scored his first ever professional goal in a 3–1 win against Falkirk on 22 August, heading in from a John Rankin corner.Coincidentally, he scored his second goal for the club at the same ground against the same team and in another 3–1 win, on 27 March.