Coventry coach Frank Lampard celebrates with goal scorer Da Silva after historic 1-0 win at Forest | Goal.com
Coventry City ended a 25-year wait for a Premier League victory on Saturday after securing a dramatic 1-0 win over 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 seasons in the top flight.
Jay Dasilva scored the decisive goal as Frank Lampard’s side claimed their first points — and first goal — of the new Premier League campaign.
The newly promoted Sky Blues had endured a difficult start to life back in the top flight, losing their opening four league matches without scoring and sitting bottom of the table before travelling to Forest.
However, Coventry produced a disciplined defensive performance to frustrate the hosts before Dasilva broke the deadlock in the second half.
The defender kept his composure to finish after goalkeeper Carl Rushworth launched a long ball forward, giving Coventry a lead they would fiercely protect.
Forest appeared to have rescued a point late in the game 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 made a crucial goal-line clearance after Morgan Gibbs-White lifted the ball over Rushworth as Forest pushed for an equaliser.
Rushworth was also instrumental in Coventry’s victory, making several important saves to deny the hosts and preserve the visitors’ clean sheet.
The result gives Lampard’s side their first points of the season and provides a significant boost after their difficult return to the Premier League.
Forest, meanwhile, suffered their second league defeat of the campaign and remain with just one victory from their opening five matches.
Coventry will head into the international break with renewed confidence, while Forest will reflect on missed chances and the late VAR decision that denied them an equaliser.
