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.
Jay Dasilva scored the decisive goal as Frank Lampard’s newly promoted Sky Blues claimed their first points — and first goal — of the Premier League season after a difficult start to life back in the top flight.
Coventry had lost their opening four league matches without scoring, leaving them bottom of the table before their trip to Forest. But Lampard’s side produced a disciplined and determined performance to frustrate the hosts before Dasilva broke the deadlock in the second half.
The Coventry defender finished calmly after goalkeeper Carl Rushworth launched a long ball forward, giving the visitors a lead they would fiercely protect.
Forest pushed hard for an equaliser and thought they had rescued a point late in the match when Igor Jesus found the net. However, the goal was ruled out following a VAR review for a foul on Coventry defender Caleb Yirenkyi.
Bobby Thomas also made a crucial goal-line clearance after Morgan Gibbs-White lifted the ball over Rushworth, while the Coventry goalkeeper produced important saves as Forest continued searching for a way back into the contest.
The result marked Coventry’s first Premier League victory since April 2001, when they defeated Bradford City 2-1. The club were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2000/01 season after 34 consecutive seasons in the top flight.
For Lampard and his players, the historic victory provides a major lift after their difficult return to the Premier League and gives Coventry their first points of the season heading into the international break.
Forest, meanwhile, suffered their second league defeat of the campaign and remain on one win from their opening five matches, with the late VAR decision adding to their frustration.