Tottenham off the bottom after first win of season as Maddison and Kulusevski return in 3-1 Coventry win
Spurs finally singing a happier tune after six-game wait
Tottenham Hotspur climbed off the bottom of the Premier League table with a gritty 3-1 home win over Coventry City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday night, securing their first victory of the 2026-27 season after a winless opening six games.
James Maddison marked his first competitive start for Spurs since May 2025 — and his first start in 536 days — with a stunning 14th-minute opener, curling a crisp right-foot shot from 25 yards past Carl Rushworth into the top corner. The England international, whose every touch was booed by Coventry supporters still seething at his departure from his boyhood club a decade ago, beamed after scoring his first goal since netting in a Europa League semi-final against Bodø/Glimt on 1 May 2025.
"It was a lovely movement for Maddison, who beamed at his first goal since scoring in a Europa League semi-final against Bodø/Glimt on 1 May 2025," the Guardian noted, adding that the midfielder "slogged through his rehab, never giving in, and his enthusiasm was infectious." Sky Sports described the playmaker as "influential throughout, seamlessly linking the pieces of Roberto De Zerbi's squad that had previously looked disjointed and awkward."
De Zerbi's side, who had previously looked disjointed, were given a spark by Mohammed Kudus, a surprise selection at attacking right wing-back. The Ghanaian laid the pass off for Maddison's opener after darting past Jay Dasilva. Kudus was later involved as Spurs weathered an early Coventry threat, with Tatsuhiro Sakamoto seeing a deflected shot spin over. Archie Gray partnered Sandro Tonali in midfield for a side that showed "rare mental fortitude," according to the Guardian.
Coventry, managed by Frank Lampard, equalised four minutes after the break. Jack Rudoni pushed down the left, exchanged passes with Caleb Yirenki and, after the ball rebounded off Brandon Thomas-Asante, chested it down and jabbed past Antonin Kinsky. A slick exchange between Sidiki Cherif and Thomas-Asante had earlier served as a warning, with Micky van de Ven required to make a crucial challenge as the striker surged past Jan Paul van Hecke.
The visitors' celebrations were short-lived. In the 58th minute Omar Marmoush restored Spurs' lead with his first goal since joining on loan from Manchester City — a vicious 20-yard strike into the far corner. The Egyptian's effort was controversial: he caught Milan van Ewijk in the face with an elbow but referee Andrew Madley allowed play to continue, with video assistant referee Paul Tierney offering no intervention. "Frank Lampard looked bewildered," the Guardian reported, and the away end reacted with astonishment when the goal was replayed on the big screens.
Stung into action, Spurs raised the intensity, with Tonali sending two shots over, before the feelgood factor peaked in the 85th minute when fan-favourite Dejan Kulusevski made his long-awaited return from the bench, ending a 526-day spell on the sidelines with a serious knee injury suffered in May 2025. "The Swede was back in the squad for the first time since suffering a knee injury in May 2025 and has been missed," the Guardian reported. De Zerbi had flagged Kulusevski's return in the build-up, with the winger named in the matchday squad for the first time in more than 500 days.
Ben Davies, introduced as a substitute, rounded off the victory with an audacious outside-of-the-boot effort in the sixth minute of added time, guaranteeing Spurs' first league win of the campaign. Mateus Fernandes and Conor Gallagher were also introduced as De Zerbi sought more energy.
The result lifts Tottenham to 16th on goal difference, level on six points with Coventry, who drop to 17th. Spurs had come into the fixture rock bottom of the table. Sky noted that no side has dropped more points than Spurs from winning positions at home in the Premier League since the start of the 2024/25 season (30), but on this occasion they held firm to protect their box during a spell of concerted Coventry pressure.
De Zerbi had taken his squad to Marbella for warm-weather training last week in an attempt to address the "doom and gloom" of a winless start. The Italian will hope sunnier times are on the way, with Spurs next travelling to face London rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday Night Football.