Tottenham claimed their first Premier League win of the season by beating Coventry 3-1 as Dejan Kulusevski made his long-awaited return after 526 days out injured.
Spurs were winless across their opening six games heading into this fixture but a week in the Marbella sunshine and a well-needed performance on home turf have helped address the doom and gloom, with brighter skies in N17 possibly on the horizon.
James Maddison, making his first competitive start for Spurs since May 2025, announced his return to the starting line-up in emphatic style, curling his opener into the top corner against the club where his professional career began.
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The playmaker was influential throughout, seamlessly linking the £300m pieces of Roberto De Zerbi's squad that had previously looked disjointed and awkward, but Jack Rudoni's equaliser just four minutes into the second half punctured the positivity brewing inside the stadium.
No side has dropped more points than Spurs from winning positions at home in the Premier League since the start of the 2024/25 season (30), but Omar Marmoush's first goal for the club, arrowing a fine strike into the far corner, put them on track to ensure they would not suffer the same fate on this occasion.
The feel-good factor that comes with a win skyrocketed in the 85th minute when fan-favourite Kulusevski made his comeback off the bench, bringing an end to his lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Ben Davies' surprise effort with the outside of the boot rounded off the victory, on what could prove to be the evening that kickstarted the 2026/27 season for Spurs.
They move level on six points with Coventry and above their opponents on goal difference into 16th, having previously come into the fixture rock bottom of the table, and will now be tasked with building on their victory against London rivals Chelsea when the two sides meet at Stamford Bridge, live on Saturday Night Football.
The key moments from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
De Zerbi: I made Kulusevski sub for fans
Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi at his post-match press conference:
"(Mohammed) Kudus was playing well and could've finished the game.
"I did it for the fans [brought Kulusevski on]. We needed the support of the fans. They are fantastic. They suffer too much in the last two or three years."
Lampard: I thought VAR would disallow Marmoush goal
Coventry boss Frank Lampard speaking at his post-match press conference about whether VAR would disallow Marmoush's goal:
"I did think that; I thought VAR would cancel it.
"You have to be careful how you choose your words. I felt that. That is all I'll say about it. We will analyse the game back."
On the defeat: "A really good display. 3-1 changes the view at the end of the game, but I thought at 2-1 we were really pushing.
"It takes them two outstanding and world-class players to score their goals.
"(Tottenham) will get better and improve for sure, but when you think that eight of our starting players were in the Championship…
"You wouldn't know which is the team that has been in the Premier League for the last 25 years and who has been out of it."
Kulusevski: I'm a different man now
Tottenham attacker Dejan Kulusevski speaking to Sky Sports News after the win following his return from injury:
"I will tell everyone about the journey. It's been an amazing journey even if it's hard sometimes; hard is beautiful.
"I'm so grateful I had to experience it, and now I'm ready to play football.
"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."
Maddison: I wanted to show Spurs what they'd been missing
Tottenham midfielder James Maddison speaking to Sky Sports:
"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.
"I spoke to the gaffer about that this week and feeling like it was the right moment for me to go back into the starting XI after a stop-start start to the season.
"I just wanted to play well and to show my qualities and what the team has missed in the last 18 months since my last start. The gaffer asked me to play and wanted to enjoy watching me from the side, so hopefully I did that. A goal like that is always nice."
Is Maddison the missing piece that can link the £300m puzzle?
Sky Sports' Patrick Rowe:
"James Maddison was the star of the show and a big reason Spurs were able to secure the well-needed win. His goal speaks for itself.
"But the rest of his play also stood out, in a slightly more understated manner.
"He was dropping deep, finding pockets of space, threading passes for the runs of Dominic Solanke and threatening from the half spaces with his crossing ability.
"Spurs, after all their investment in the summer, looked disjointed and uninspiring across the opening six games.
"Maddison looks like the piece that could link the £300m pieces of this Spurs puzzle together. Whether that is through his own finishing or the ability to bring other players into the game.
"Keeping him fit and firing is now essential to the club building on this game."
Carra: Maddison has magic in his boots!
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher on Monday Night Football:
"James Maddison definitely has more panache than Conor Gallagher in that No 10 position.
"It was a joy to see [his goal]. He is one of the real characters in the game and you don't want him not around Premier League football.
"That was just a great moment. When you're a player with an injury like that, there will be a fear: will you ever come back or will you be the same player?
"There is still a long way to go, but he still has a bit of magic in his boots!"
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