Coventry City ended a 25-year wait for a Premier League victory on Saturday, securing a historic 1-0 win away to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
The victory was Coventry’s first in the Premier League since April 2001, when they defeated Bradford City 2-1. The club were relegated at the end of the 2000/01 season after 34 consecutive campaigns in the top flight.
Jay Dasilva scored the decisive goal as Frank Lampard’s newly promoted side claimed their first points — and first goal — of the Premier League season.
Coventry had endured a difficult return to the top flight, losing their opening four league matches without scoring and sitting bottom of the table before their trip to Nottingham.
However, the Sky Blues produced a disciplined defensive display to frustrate Forest before Dasilva broke the deadlock in the second half.
The Coventry defender kept his composure to finish after goalkeeper Carl Rushworth launched a long ball forward, giving the visitors a lead they would defend resolutely.
Forest thought they had rescued a point late on when Igor Jesus found the net, but the goal was ruled out following a VAR review for a foul on Coventry defender Caleb Yirenkyi.
The decision preserved Coventry’s lead, while Bobby Thomas produced a crucial goal-line clearance after Morgan Gibbs-White lifted the ball over Rushworth as Forest pushed desperately for an equaliser.
Rushworth also played a key role in Coventry’s victory, making several important saves to keep the hosts at bay.
The result gives Lampard’s side their first points of the season and a significant boost after their difficult start to life back in the Premier League.
For Forest, the defeat was their second of the league campaign and leaves them with one victory from their opening five matches.
Coventry’s historic victory also means they head into the international break with their long wait for a Premier League win finally over, while Forest will rue their missed chances and the late VAR intervention that denied them an equaliser.
