Tottenham Hotspur finally got their first Premier League win of the season, edging past Coventry City 3-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. And the night belonged to one man: James Maddison, who marked his first start in 18 months with a brilliant strike against his former club — muting his celebration out of respect for the side where his career began.
James Maddison (Credits: BBC Sport)
Maddison, rated 8 by BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty, was “always prompting and probing” before understandably tiring late on. His goal set the tone for a nervy but ultimately successful evening for Spurs.
Squad Standouts and Strugglers
Omar Marmoush, who had struggled for form, produced “a superb goal” to earn a 6, while Micky van de Ven (7) delivered a “superb tackle” to deny Brandon Thomas-Asante and put in a solid all-round display. Substitute Ben Davies closed out the win with an experienced cameo — and even grabbed a goal, though Coventry keeper Carl Rushworth will feel he should have done better with it.
It wasn’t all rosy for Spurs: Tosin Adarabioyo (6) went off injured, Andrew Robertson (6) also picked up a knock, and Sandro Tonali (6) still “struggles to justify his £100m price tag,” showing only occasional flashes. Mohammed Kudus (5) was a mixed bag, often short of end product.
Coventry’s Resistance
Coventry battled gamely. Jack Rudoni (7) “showed great determination to bustle his way through” for his goal, and Bobby Thomas (7) was “a tower of strength in defence” with a vital headed clearance. But the visitors couldn’t hold off a Spurs side desperate for its first win of the campaign.
The victory lifts pressure on Tottenham’s camp after a winless start — and Maddison’s dream return gives fans plenty of reason to believe better days are ahead.
Also Read: Diego Gomez Scores Extraordinary 51-Metre Halfway-Line Goal as Brighton Put Five Past Palace
Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
