Eighteen months after his last start for Tottenham, James Maddison curled a beauty into the top corner against his first club, Coventry, and set Spurs on their way to a 3-1 win — their first Premier League victory of the season and the end of their stay at the bottom of the table.
Key takeaways
- Maddison scored after 14 minutes on his first competitive start since May 2025, following a long recovery from an ACL injury.
- Omar Marmoush got his first Spurs goal and Ben Davies added a late third after Jack Rudoni had equalised for Coventry.
- Dejan Kulusevski came off the bench for his first competitive appearance in 526 days.
- The win lifts Spurs off the foot of the table and into 16th, level on six points with Coventry.
A goal worth the wait
There was a nervous edge around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday night. Spurs had gone six league games without a win, sat rock bottom of the Premier League and had spent a week in the Marbella sunshine trying to reset. They needed a lift, and Maddison provided it within 14 minutes.
Mohammed Kudus teed him up, and the 29-year-old bent a precise, curling shot from distance into the top corner. It was the kind of goal that had become a trademark before his injury, and it came against the club where his professional career began.
"They are the ones you dream of. Those dark days recovering from the ACL you dream of those moments and those goals. That is always the light at the end of the tunnel."
— James Maddison
Maddison’s last competitive start for Spurs had come in May 2025, in the Europa League semi-final, when Ange Postecoglou was still in charge. He suffered a serious knee injury — a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament — and although he first returned towards the end of last season, a series of setbacks kept him out of the starting line-up until now.
How the match unfolded
Spurs thought they had doubled their lead four minutes later when Dominic Solanke turned home Andy Robertson’s cross, but the offside flag was already up. Instead it was Coventry who struck next, four minutes into the second half, when Jack Rudoni powered his way into the penalty area and forced in an equaliser.
That goal touched a nerve. Since the start of the 2024-25 season, no team has dropped more points from winning positions at home in the Premier League than Tottenham, with 30. This time, though, they responded. In the 58th minute, Omar Marmoush struck a fine shot into the far corner for his first goal for the club.
Coventry manager Frank Lampard felt the goal should not have stood, believing Marmoush had used his elbow on Milan van Ewijk in the build-up, but a quick VAR check cleared it. Deep into stoppage time, substitute Ben Davies sealed the win with a surprise finish with the outside of his boot.
Key moments
- 14’ – Maddison curls Spurs ahead.
- 18’ – Solanke finishes but is ruled offside.
- 49’ – Rudoni equalises for Coventry.
- 58’ – Marmoush restores the lead with his first Spurs goal.
- 86’ – Kulusevski returns after 526 days out.
- 90+6’ – Davies makes it 3-1.
"So much more to give"
Maddison was in no doubt about what he can still offer. He said he had spoken to head coach Roberto De Zerbi during the week and agreed it was the right moment to return to the starting XI after what he called a "stop-start start to the season".
"I have so much more to give for this club. I'm 29 and I still have plenty of years left. I have self-belief and plenty of qualities that can help us in this league."
— James Maddison
He added that he wanted to show "what the team has missed in the last 18 months since my last start". With two years left on his contract, he has time to prove it — and on this evidence, Spurs have missed a great deal.
The glue for a £300m squad?
Tottenham spent £334m on new signings in the summer after narrowly avoiding relegation last season, but the new arrivals had looked disjointed through the opening six games. Against Coventry, Maddison seemed to bring the pieces together. Beyond his goal, he dropped deep to find space, threaded passes for Solanke’s runs and threatened with crosses from the half-spaces.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher was impressed, saying Maddison "still has a bit of magic in his boots" and has "more panache than Conor Gallagher in that No 10 position". He also praised his personality, describing him as one of those players who lifts the dressing room, with "that football arrogance that I like in players". The question, Carragher added, is where Maddison fits once everyone is fit, given how many attacking options Spurs now have.
Kulusevski’s emotional return
Maddison was not the only comeback story. With four minutes of normal time left, Dejan Kulusevski came off the bench for his first competitive appearance in 526 days after a long battle with a knee injury, to a huge reception from the home crowd. De Zerbi admitted the substitution was partly for the supporters, saying the fans "suffer too much in the last two or three years".
"I see myself a little bit differently now. I think I'm a different man now, same guy that wants to play football but a little bit smarter, so I'm happy."
— Dejan Kulusevski
Maddison, who knows what a long injury feels like, said he was "really emotional and proud" to see his team-mate back on the pitch.
Lampard proud despite defeat
For promoted Coventry, the defeat was a frustrating one. Lampard believed his side were "really pushing" at 2-1 and argued that it took "two outstanding and world-class players" to beat them. He also pointed out that eight of his starting XI had been playing in the Championship, saying that on the night "you wouldn't know which is the team that has been in the Premier League for the last 25 years".
What comes next
The win moves Spurs level with Coventry on six points and above them on goal difference into 16th. It is only a first step, but it eases the pressure on De Zerbi and gives his side something to build on. Their next test is a big one: a London derby against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night.
If Maddison can stay fit and keep producing performances like this, Tottenham may finally have the player who turns an expensive collection of talent into a team.
Source: Sky Sports
