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Maddison scores on first start in 17 months as Tottenham beat Coventry for first league win

Omar Marmoush and Ben Davies also scored, and Dejan Kulusevski returned after 526 days out.

By , Sports news desk

· 2 min read

Tottenham midfielder James Maddison
James Maddison (File photo) Photo: KrispyKrumpets / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Tottenham beat Coventry City 3-1 on 19 October 2026 for their first Premier League win of the season. James Maddison scored on his first start since May 2025.

Key takeaways

  • James Maddison curled in the opener after 14 minutes on his first start since May 2025.
  • Jack Rudoni equalised for Coventry four minutes into the second half.
  • Omar Marmoush scored his first Spurs goal on 58 minutes and Ben Davies added a third in stoppage time.
  • Dejan Kulusevski came off the bench late on after 526 days out.
  • Spurs are 16th on six points, level with Coventry.

James Maddison had not started a match since May 2025. Fourteen minutes into his return on 19 October, he took a pass from Mohammed Kudus and curled the ball into the top corner, and Tottenham went on to beat Coventry City 3-1 for their first Premier League win of the season.

The 29-year-old ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in August 2025. After the match he said he had wanted to show his qualities and what the team had been missing.

I just wanted to play well.

— James Maddison, after the match

How the goals came

  • 14 min: Maddison 1-0, curled in from the edge of the area.

  • 18 min: Dominic Solanke scored, but it was ruled out for offside.

  • 49 min: Jack Rudoni 1-1, from close range after a loose ball.

  • 58 min: Omar Marmoush 2-1, a strike from distance for his first Spurs goal.

  • 90+6 min: Ben Davies 3-1, as a substitute.

Kulusevski's return

Late in the match Dejan Kulusevski came on, 526 days after his last appearance. The crowd gave him a warm reception.

The table

Spurs had been winless in six league games before this match and started the day bottom of the table despite heavy summer spending. The win lifts Roberto De Zerbi's side to 16th on six points, level with Coventry on goal difference.

Coventry had their moments. Rudoni's equaliser came four minutes after the restart, when a loose ball fell back into his path, and for a spell the visitors looked capable of taking something from the game. Marmoush's long-range strike nine minutes later changed the mood inside the stadium.

Marmoush, on loan from Manchester City, offered a second attacking option alongside Maddison's creativity, something Spurs have lacked this season.

Next for Tottenham is a trip to Chelsea, where De Zerbi will hope the return of Maddison and Kulusevski gives his squad the depth it has been missing.

Maddison said afterwards that, at 29, he still has plenty of years left and believes he can help Spurs climb the table.

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