LONDON — James Maddison made a sensational return to Tottenham’s starting line-up as Roberto De Zerbi’s men beat Coventry 3-1 to claim their first Premier League win of the season.
On a feel-good night in London, Maddison marked his first start in 17 months with a spectacular early goal while Dejan Kulusevski returned to the matchday squad after missing the whole of last season.
Jack Rudoni levelled early in the second half but the home side were back in front just before the hour mark when Egypt’s Omar Marmoush lashed home his first goal for the club and substitute Ben Davies made the points safe in added time.
“I just wanted to play well, I just wanted to show my qualities and show what I bring to the team and what the team’s missed in the last 18 months or whatever it is from my last start,” Maddison told Sky Sports.
“So, the gaffer asked me to play and he wanted to enjoy watching me from the side, so hopefully I did that.”
The Spurs playmaker said he believed he could help propel his team up the table as they seek to avoid the indignity of last season, when they narrowly escaped relegation.
“I’m 29, I’ve still got plenty of years left, and I have a lot of self-belief, and I know that I have quality that can really help us in this league,” he added according to AFP.
Winless Spurs
Spurs came into the match rock bottom of the Premier League and with the unwanted record of being the only team in England’s top six divisions without a league win this season despite a huge summer outlay.
De Zerbi had taken his squad to Marbella in southern Spain for some warm-weather training in a bid to kickstart their season and it paid off against Frank Lampard’s competitive Coventry side.
Maddison, who ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in August 2025, just three months after injuring the same knee, put his side ahead in the 14th minute after fine work from Mohammed Kudus on the right.
Lurking just outside the penalty area, he received the ball from Kudus and sent it curling past Coventry goalkeeper Carl Rushworth and into the top corner, sparking wild scenes of delight among the home fans.
Maddison came close to doubling Spurs’ lead after half an hour but his half-cross, half-shot curled narrowly wide.
Newly promoted Coventry were level in the 49th minute, courtesy of a Rudoni strike from close range.
Spurs lost the ball in the Coventry half and the visitors swept forward. Rudoni’s effort hit a teammate but the ball fell kindly for him again and he drove home.
Just nine minutes later Spurs were back in front when Manchester City loanee Marmoush held off Milan van Ewijk before unleashing a powerful shot from distance.
Kulusevski, whose career was interrupted by a knee injury in May 2025, was brought off the substitutes’ bench in the final minutes to a huge ovation from the home fans.
Spurs veteran Davies made the three points safe in the dying minutes, poking home from the edge of the penalty area.
The win lifts Spurs up to 16th in the table, buying De Zerbi much-needed breathing space.
