Tottenham Hotspur finally have something to celebrate after ending their frustrating Premier League winless run with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Coventry City on Monday night, as James Maddison marked his return to the starting lineup with a superb goal before Omar Marmoush and Ben Davies completed the job.
The victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was Spurs’ first league win of the 2026/27 season, ending a 148-day wait and lifting Roberto De Zerbi’s side off the bottom of the table.
Maddison wasted little time reminding supporters of his quality, opening the scoring in the 14th minute with a brilliant finish that brought the home crowd to life.
The England midfielder collected the ball after Mohammed Kudus worked his way into space and laid it back for him. Maddison adjusted his feet before curling a right-footed effort into the far corner, giving goalkeeper Carl Rushworth little chance.
It was a particularly emotional moment for Maddison, who was making his first start since May 2025 following a lengthy injury layoff. His goal was also his first Premier League strike for Tottenham in 610 days.
Coventry, however, refused to surrender. Brandon Thomas-Asante threatened before half-time, but Micky van de Ven produced a crucial sliding block to deny him a clear opportunity.
The visitors returned with renewed determination after the break and found their equaliser in the 49th minute. Jack Rudoni continued his run into the penalty area following a move involving Thomas-Asante, capitalising on Tottenham’s defensive uncertainty before firing the ball into the net to make it 1-1.
The goal threatened to deepen Tottenham’s frustration, but the hosts responded with the kind of attacking quality their supporters had been waiting to see.
Marmoush restored Tottenham’s advantage in the 58th minute with a powerful strike into the corner after Andy Robertson supplied the ball. The Egyptian forward held off Milan van Ewijk before unleashing an effort that gave Rushworth little opportunity to intervene.
It was Marmoush’s first goal for Tottenham since joining on loan from Manchester City, making the strike an important personal milestone as well as a decisive moment in the contest.
The goal also sparked controversy, with Coventry players appearing unhappy about the contact involved in the build-up. However, the goal stood.
Tottenham subsequently had to navigate a difficult spell as injuries forced changes to their lineup. Maddison, Robertson and Tosin Adarabioyo all departed, disrupting the hosts’ rhythm and giving Coventry hope of finding another equaliser.
Spurs also received a welcome boost when Dejan Kulusevski entered the action in the 87th minute, making his long-awaited return after 526 days out with injury. His introduction was greeted by a thunderous reception from the home supporters.
With Coventry pushing for a late breakthrough, Tottenham finally put the result beyond doubt in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Dominic Solanke provided the assist for Ben Davies, whose effort beat Rushworth to make it 3-1 and spark celebrations around the stadium.
Tottenham’s victory lifted them to 16th place with six points from seven matches, moving them above Coventry in the Premier League standings.
For De Zerbi, the result offers a much-needed boost after a difficult opening to the campaign. For Maddison and Marmoush, it was a night to remember, while Kulusevski’s return gave supporters another reason to feel optimistic.
Spurs have finally secured their first league win of the season. The challenge now is to build on it and prove that this result marks the beginning of a genuine revival rather than a temporary reprieve.
