Maddison’s first start in 536 days began with a goal, and Spurs beat Coventry 3-1 for their first league win
James Maddison curled in the opener against his boyhood club and Omar Marmoush scored his first Spurs goal as Tottenham beat Coventry 3-1 to climb off the bottom of the Premier League.
Oct 20, 2026
Seven league games in, Tottenham have a win. They beat Coventry City 3-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday night, and the man who started it had not started a game for 536 days.
James Maddison came through Coventry’s academy. In the 14th minute he took Mohammed Kudus’s pass first time and curled it from outside the box into the top corner, past Carl Rushworth. That was the first time Spurs had led in a league match all season.
Rudoni levels, Marmoush answers
Coventry could have been in front by then. Antonín Kinsky had to save from Brandon Thomas-Asante in the opening seconds, and Micky van de Ven needed a last-ditch tackle on the same player just before half-time.
The equaliser came four minutes after the restart, and Spurs gifted it. Jan Paul van Hecke lost the ball and Jack Rudoni finished from close range, with Kinsky getting a hand to a shot he might have kept out.
Omar Marmoush put Spurs back in front nine minutes later. He turned Milan van Ewijk and hit a shot from outside the area past Rushworth for his first goal for the club. Coventry wanted a foul, because Marmoush’s elbow caught Van Ewijk during the turn, and VAR did not step in. Frank Lampard said afterwards he had expected it to be ruled out.
Ben Davies, on as a substitute, settled it in the sixth minute of stoppage time from the edge of the area.
Kulusevski back after 526 days
The loudest noise of the night was for another substitute. Dejan Kulusevski came on in the closing minutes for his first appearance in 526 days, after 17 months out with a knee injury. He and Maddison were both hurt in May 2025, and this was only Spurs’ fourth win at their own ground since.
There was a price. Andy Robertson and Tosin Adarabioyo both went off injured, and Roberto De Zerbi’s squad was thin enough before kick-off.
Off the bottom, level with Coventry
Spurs started the night 20th, with three points from six games. They finish it 16th on six points, level with Coventry and a place above them on goal difference. Lampard’s promoted side had won their previous two league games and now have two wins from seven.
Next up for Spurs is a trip to Chelsea on Saturday 24 October. Coventry are at home to Fulham the same day.