Tottenham secured their first Premier League victory of the season with a 3-1 win over Coventry, while Dejan Kulusevski made his long-awaited return from injury after 526 days on the sidelines.
Spurs had failed to win any of their opening six league matches, but a week in Marbella and a much-improved display at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium lifted the mood around the club. The victory moved them on to six points, level with Coventry and above them on goal difference in 16th place, having started the match bottom of the table.
James Maddison marked his first competitive start for Tottenham since May 2025 with an excellent opening goal in the 14th minute. The midfielder, who began his professional career at Coventry, received the ball before curling a superb effort into the top corner.
Maddison was at the centre of Tottenham’s best work, helping link together the £300m components of Roberto De Zerbi’s squad after a difficult opening to the campaign in which they had often appeared disjointed.
However, the positive atmosphere was checked four minutes into the second half when Jack Rudoni powered into the Tottenham penalty area and forced the ball home to bring Coventry level.
Tottenham have dropped more points from winning positions at home than any other side in the Premier League since the start of the 2024/25 season, losing 30 points in those circumstances. They avoided another such setback when Omar Marmoush restored their lead in the 58th minute with his first goal for the club, sending a precise strike into the far corner.
The result was secured in stoppage time as Ben Davies produced a surprise finish with the outside of his boot. His goal completed the scoring and guaranteed Tottenham their first league win of the season.
The biggest cheer of the evening came in the 85th minute, when Kulusevski was introduced from the bench. The Spurs winger had been absent for 526 days because of an injury setback involving his knee, but returned to the pitch to add to the sense of relief around the stadium.
Tottenham will now look to build on the result when they face London rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, live on Saturday Night Football.
Key moments
14 minutes – Goal: Maddison curls a fine effort into the top corner on his return to Tottenham’s starting line-up.
18 minutes – No goal: Dominic Solanke taps in Andy Robertson’s cross, but the assistant referee’s flag is already raised for offside.
49 minutes – Equaliser: Rudoni drives into the Tottenham area and forces the ball home.
58 minutes – Goal: Marmoush scores his first Tottenham goal with a strike into the far corner.
86 minutes – Kulusevski returns: The winger comes on after 526 days out injured.
90+6 minutes – Game over: Davies scores to confirm Tottenham’s first league victory of the season.
