Twenty-five years of waiting finally came to an end at the City Ground on Saturday as Coventry City stunned Nottingham Forest 1-0 to secure their first Premier League victory since 2001.
The newly promoted Sky Blues arrived at Nottingham desperate for a breakthrough after losing their opening four league matches without scoring. But against Forest, Frank Lampard’s men produced a determined display and held on to a historic victory.
Jay Dasilva became Coventry’s hero when he struck in the second half to put the visitors ahead. The defender kept his composure after goalkeeper Carl Rushworth launched a long ball forward, finishing the move to give Coventry their first goal of the Premier League season.
Forest refused to go down quietly and piled pressure on the visitors in search of an equaliser.
Morgan Gibbs-White came close when he lifted the ball over Rushworth, but Bobby Thomas made a crucial goal-line clearance to prevent the home side from drawing level.
Forest later thought they had found the breakthrough when Igor Jesus put the ball into the net. However, VAR intervened and the goal was ruled out for a foul on Coventry defender Caleb Yirenkyi.
Rushworth then produced several important saves as Coventry battled to protect their narrow advantage until the final whistle.
The result ended Coventry’s long Premier League drought. Their previous top-flight victory came in April 2001, when they defeated Bradford City 2-1.
Coventry were relegated at the end of the 2000/01 campaign after spending 34 consecutive seasons in the top flight. Their return has not started smoothly, but Saturday’s result has now given Lampard’s team their first points and goal of the campaign.
Forest, meanwhile, suffered their second league defeat of the season and remain with one win from their opening five matches.
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