Tottenham Hotspur ended their wait for a Premier League victory with a 3-1 win over Coventry City on Monday night, as James Maddison marked his return to the starting line-up with a superb goal before Omar Marmoush and Ben Davies secured the points for Roberto De Zerbi’s side.
Spurs arrived at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium having failed to win any of their opening six league matches. Maddison’s early strike offered a much-needed lift, but Jack Rudoni’s equaliser shortly after half-time threatened to extend their difficult start to the season.
Marmoush restored Tottenham’s advantage in the 58th minute, before Davies added a third in stoppage time. The result lifted Spurs from the bottom of the Premier League table to 16th, level on six points with Coventry but above them on goal difference.
The victory was significant given Tottenham’s recent problems at home. They had dropped 30 points from winning positions in Premier League home matches since the start of the 2024/25 season, more than any other side over that period. This time, however, they responded positively after conceding and saw out the result.
Maddison, making his first competitive start for Spurs since May 2025, opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Receiving the ball from Mohammed Kudus, he curled a superb effort into the top corner to give the hosts an early advantage.
Coventry remained competitive and levelled four minutes into the second half, when Rudoni finished after getting into the Tottenham penalty area. The equaliser briefly shifted the momentum, but Spurs responded through Marmoush, who scored his first goal for the club with an excellent finish from distance.
Davies then completed the scoring in the sixth minute of added time, putting the result beyond doubt and giving the home supporters a chance to celebrate a long-awaited league victory.
De Zerbi: “We have to play better because we can play better.”
The Tottenham manager was pleased with the result and his players’ response after conceding, but admitted that the performance itself was not among their best.
“Yes, very happy for the result, very happy for Maddison, very happy for Deki Kulusevski.”
Speaking after the match, De Zerbi credited Coventry for making the contest difficult through their compact defensive organisation. He felt Tottenham had moved the ball too slowly in the first half and had become predictable when trying to find openings.
The Italian also explained why he opted for a back three, pointing to injuries and concerns in midfield. The system was designed to provide greater control and limit Coventry’s counter-attacking opportunities.
“The Coventry style of play is 80 per cent counter-attack, and we didn’t concede any counter-attack.”
De Zerbi said his side had limited the visitors’ opportunities, although he acknowledged that Tottenham needed to create more chances and improve the quality of their play. He also stressed that the squad must take greater responsibility and continue to support one another during difficult moments.
“We can’t accept, we can’t move on if we don’t take more responsibility.”
The manager believes the victory can help rebuild confidence after a challenging run, but warned that his players must maintain the same unity and attitude while continuing to improve.
One of the evening’s most emotional moments came when Dejan Kulusevski returned from the bench. The winger made his first appearance in 526 days, ending a lengthy injury absence and receiving a warm reception from the home crowd.
De Zerbi described the Swede’s return as particularly important, praising both his footballing ability and his character. The comeback, alongside Maddison’s goal, provided further encouragement on a night when Tottenham finally had a result to celebrate.
For Coventry, the defeat was frustrating after a performance that kept them in contention for much of the match. Rudoni’s equaliser demonstrated their ability to trouble Spurs, and manager Frank Lampard felt the final scoreline did not fully reflect how competitive his side had been.
Lampard: “I am proud of the performance.”
The Coventry manager praised his players’ approach and their willingness to take the game to Tottenham, while expressing disappointment at the goals they conceded.
“Very pleased with the performance. We were in the game to say the least.”
Lampard also questioned whether Marmoush’s goal should have stood, arguing that there had been contact involving Coventry defender Milan van Ewijk. He acknowledged the quality of the finish but felt the incident deserved closer scrutiny.
“Two outstanding goals for them, the second was questionable because the arm up in the face but quality finish.”
His comments reflect his own assessment of the incident rather than an established refereeing error. Despite the frustration, Lampard was encouraged by his players’ performance and the way they competed against a side with considerable Premier League experience.
He also felt Davies’ late goal made the scoreline harsher on Coventry, who had hoped to take something from the match after getting back on level terms.
For Tottenham, the victory offers an opportunity to reset after a difficult opening to the league campaign. Maddison’s return to the starting line-up, Marmoush’s first goal and Kulusevski’s comeback all provided positive moments, but De Zerbi knows that greater consistency will be required.
Coventry, meanwhile, must turn encouraging spells into points. Their performance showed that they could challenge Tottenham, but the hosts’ response after the equaliser proved decisive.
Spurs finally have their first league win of the season. The next test will be whether they can build on it and carry the same determination into their upcoming fixtures.
