James Maddison gives Tottenham lift off: First Premier League goal in 610 days helps fire Roberto De Zerbi’s men off the bottom of the table in 3-1 win over Coventry

Ghanamma

October 19, 2026Ghana

By MATT BARLOW 22:00 19 Oct 2026, updated 22:20 19 Oct 2026

They came to salute the return of Dejan Kulusevski, and they rose to applaud James Maddison as he fired in the goal to finally give Tottenham lift off in this Premier League season.

Kulusevski came off the bench in the 87th minute, his first appearance for close to 18 months after a serious knee injury which for a time threatened to end his career, but Maddison had not started a game for even longer.

His own recovery from a knee injury suffered setbacks and was complicated by first a hip niggle in pre-season and then a shoulder problem after coming on as a sub in the first game of the season.

Roberto De Zerbi threw Maddison back into the team against Coventry, a club where his career began and left to join Norwich more than a decade ago, and whose fans made the mistake of jeering his early touches.

Maddison repaid the Spurs boss and silenced the those in the away end with a wonderful goal to give his team the lead in the 14th minute and settle a few of the jitters.

It swerved from his right boot into the top corner from just outside the penalty box, his first Premier League goal for 610 days.

HOLT: Man City facing HUGE points deduction that guarantees relegation127.2K viewing nowUS Air Force service member dies from horrific mishap at football game37K viewing now James Maddison scored his first Premier League goal in 610 days to give Tottenham lift-off Dejan Kulusevski made his first outing since May 2025 and received a rapturous reception Roberto De Zerbi’s side finally have a win – and the rocking Tottenham faithful loved it By the time he left the pitch exhausted in the 69th minute, his team were 2-1 up.

Jack Rudoni had equalised for Coventry before Omar Marmoush’s first goal since his move from Manchester City restored the lead.

Ben Davies was the unlikely scorer of the third in the sixth minute of stoppage time, a goal to finally sink Coventry and a shot their goalkeeper Carl Rushworth should really have saved.

Spurs did not care as they celebrated their first Premier League win of the season and climbed off the foot of the table.

It was the perfect way to return to action after a training break last week on the Costa del Sol, although there were more injury concerns for De Zerbi during a nervous closing spell.

The Spurs boss had described the fightback with 10 men to draw at Manchester United as the first time this season Spurs had played like a team. And yet it did not stop him making five changes and adopting a new formation.

Injuries to Savio, Lucas Bergvall and Destiny Udogie played a part in his thinking. Udogie hurt a knee at Old Trafford. ‘We didn’t take a risk,’ the Spurs boss told Sky Sports before kick-off.

Captain Micky van de Ven and Andy Robertson were also back after being rested after a heavy workload in the international break in an unfamiliar tactical shape with three centre halves.

Coventry put them under early pressure. Toni Kinsky saved at the feet of Jack Rudoni inside 15 seconds. Jan Paul van Hecke deflected a shot from Tatsuhiro Sakamoto over with his head and Bobby Thomas went close with a header from the corner. All of this within the first 15 minutes.

Spurs flickered with promise at the same time. Mohamed Kudus was deployed as a wing-back almost absolved of any defensive duty. Van Hecke, the right sided central defender, and Archie Gray in midfield shuffled about dutifully on covering missions.

At times Van Hecke played like a right back, at times like a centre half. This freedom mack Kudus difficult to pick up, and he was involved in Maddison’s opener carrying the ball forward after Tosin Adarabioyo won the ball in the air and Gray moved it wide.

The goal though was all about Maddison’s exquisite finish, swept first time beyond the dive of Carl Rushworth, the Coventry goalkeeper who must be astonished by the quality of long-range shooting in the Premier League.

Brighton’s Lewis Dunk and Newcastle’s Sven Botman have both crashed screamers into the top corner from distance and again this was perfectly curled into the top corner.

Ahead for the first time in the Premier League campaign, Spurs were able to relax. Their movement became more natural and less forced and Maddison came alive, demanding the ball and looking to make things happen.

Spurs dominated possession, although it was their only shot on target in the first half and they were still vulnerable against a Coventry team quick on the turnover and threating from set pieces. Tosin’s presence helped Spurs to cope with their aerial strength.

The Van de Ven afterburners were required towards the end of the first half when Brandon Thomas-Asante darted clear of Van Hecke. Van de Ven was alert to the danger and quick on the cover with a sliding tackle.

Coventry started the season with four defeats but kicked into life with a win at Nottingham Forest before thumping four past Newcastle on their previous outing.

They travelled to London with the look of a team who knew the plan and were level early in the second half.

Van Hecke lost the ball dribbling out into midfield and was punished by Rudoni who linked up well with Caleb Yirenkyi and then forced a shot past Kinsky when his initial cross rebounded his way.

Spurs have seldom responded well to setbacks in recent months, especially not at home in the Premier League and the fact they did will encourage De Zerbi. They went forward with purpose after the equaliser.

Sandro Tonali fizzed shots over and wide before Marmoush struck.

Coventry thought there was a foul as he escaped a challenge by throwing out an arm and catching Milan van Ewijk flush in the face, but the goal would stand.

Tosin, Robertson and Marmoush all went off injured in the closing stages and Kulusevski came on to a rapturous ovation.

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