Jay Dasilva scored a superb second-half winner as Coventry City secured their first Premier League victory in 25 years with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday.
The victory ended a difficult start to life back in the top flight for Frank Lampard’s side, who had lost their opening four league matches without scoring.
Coventry had shown greater defensive discipline during a largely even first half, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut opportunities despite a lively opening.
Forest threatened through James McAtee and Neco Williams, while Coventry also tested Matz Sels through Brandon Thomas-Asante. Neither side could break the deadlock before the interval.
Ten minutes after the restart, Coventry finally found the breakthrough.
Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth launched a long ball forward which Dasilva collected before showing strength to get beyond Daniel Muñoz. The defender then produced a composed finish beyond Sels to send the travelling supporters into celebration.
The goal was Coventry’s first in the Premier League since 2001 and gave Lampard’s side something to protect for the remainder of the contest.
Forest responded by increasing the pressure and brought on Chris Wood and Igor Jesus as they searched for an equaliser.
Bobby Thomas produced a crucial intervention when he raced back to clear a lob from Jesus off the goal line, keeping Coventry in front.
Forest eventually appeared to have found their equaliser in the 86th minute when Jesus capitalised on a defensive mistake and put the ball into the net.
However, referee Jarred Gillett was advised to review the incident by VAR after Caleb Yirenkyi went down in the build-up. Following the pitchside review, the referee ruled that Jesus had fouled the Coventry defender and overturned the goal.
The decision sparked fury among the home supporters, who felt the contact was insufficient to warrant cancelling the goal.
Coventry survived the late pressure to claim three points and move off the bottom of the Premier League table.
For Lampard, the result provides a much-needed lift after four consecutive defeats and no goals at the beginning of the campaign. It also marked Coventry’s first top-flight victory since April 2001, when they defeated Sunderland.
Forest, meanwhile, were left to rue missed opportunities and the late VAR decision as their difficult home form continued.
Despite the controversy, Coventry’s disciplined defensive performance and Dasilva’s decisive finish were enough to secure a memorable victory and end a 25-year wait for a Premier League win.
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