James Maddison scores in his first start in 17 months as Tottenham beat Coventry 3-1 for their first Premier League win

Tottenham finally have a Premier League win this season. James Maddison made sure of it.

Spurs beat Frank Lampard's Coventry City 3-1 at home on Monday for their first league victory of the campaign. Maddison scored in his first start in more than 17 months and the win lifted Tottenham off the bottom of the table.

A dream return

Maddison opened the scoring in the 14th minute against his hometown club. He hit a first-time shot from outside the box that sailed over goalkeeper Carl Rushworth and into the top corner. Then he broke out his trademark darts celebration.

It was his first goal since his last start, a 3-1 win over Bodø/Glimt in the Europa League semifinals at the end of the 2024-25 season. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament after that and only made it back to the field last April.

"They're the ones you dream of," Maddison said. "Without going too deep into it, them dark days last year, recovering from the ACL, you dream of them moments, them goals and that is the light at the end of the tunnel."

Maddison said he spoke with coach Roberto De Zerbi this week about returning to the starting lineup. "I just wanted to play well, show my quality and show what the team's missed," he said.

A wild second half

Coventry tied it four minutes after halftime when Jack Rudoni finished from close range. Omar Marmoush put Spurs back in front in the 58th minute with a shot from outside the box.

Tottenham then lost Tosin Adarabioyo, Andy Robertson and Marmoush to injuries. That opened the door for Dejan Kulusevski. The Swedish winger came on late for his first match since he hurt his knee on the final day of the 2024-25 season. Surgery and several setbacks kept him out for 17 months and the home crowd gave him a special ovation.

Minutes later Ben Davies scuffed a shot from outside the box past Rushworth in stoppage time to seal the win.

"I knew exactly that feeling of him stepping onto the pitch after that time out," Maddison said of Kulusevski. "Those moments and goals make it all worth it."

Lampard frustrated

Lampard felt his team deserved more. "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," he said. "It takes them two outstanding and world-class players to score their goals."