Tottenham ended their long wait for a Premier League victory by beating Coventry City 3-1 on 19 October, with James Maddison scoring on his first start in 536 days and Dejan Kulusevski making his own long-awaited return from injury.
The result lifted Tottenham from the bottom of the table and ended their unwanted status as the only club in England’s top seven divisions yet to win this season. It was also their first league victory in nearly five months and only their fourth league win in 2024.
Maddison’s curling finish after 14 minutes was Tottenham’s first opening-half goal of the season. The 29-year-old had not started since the Europa League semi-final against Bodø/Glimt in May 2023, having spent a lengthy period recovering from two serious knee injuries.
He moved between midfield and Coventry’s defence, combined with Dominic Solanke and showed the attacking responsibility Tottenham had lacked in their opening six matches. His performance faded after the goal, however, with several ambitious passes over the Coventry defence failing to reach their intended targets.
Tottenham controlled possession but struggled to create consistently after their bright start. Jake Rudoni’s equaliser briefly threatened to undo their progress, although the hosts regained their composure and went back in front.
Omar Marmoush restored Tottenham’s lead in the 59th minute with a spectacular curling effort into the far corner. The goal was his first for Tottenham since joining on loan from Man City in August, with a mandatory purchase clause set at an initial £50 million ($67 million).
Coventry players and supporters protested that the goal should have been disallowed after Marmoush’s raised elbow struck Milan van Ewijk in the face as he prepared to shoot. The Dutch defender immediately went to ground, while Coventry manager Frank Lampard strongly objected on the touchline. The Video Assistant Referee did not recommend a pitchside review and the goal stood.
Marmoush had failed to score in his previous five Premier League appearances. The 27-year-old, who operates from the left behind Solanke, has nevertheless shown his ability from distance, with his strike against Bournemouth in the 2024-25 season voted the Premier League’s Goal of the Season.
The biggest celebrations came when Kulusevski entered as a substitute, returning after 526 days out with a serious right patellar injury. The home crowd applauded his first touches on the left wing before Ben Davies completed the scoring from the edge of the box in stoppage time.
Manager Roberto De Zerbi’s side were not necessarily more convincing than in matches against Everton, Aston Villa and Manchester United, when they failed to turn promising starts into leads. They also left space behind their defence for counter-attacks, but the win eased the pressure created by those missed opportunities.
Maddison received a standing ovation when he was substituted, although the performance showed he still has work to do before he can consistently control matches. Tottenham now travel to face Chelsea, against whom their historical record is poor, but the victory demonstrated that they can respond collectively under pressure.
