Coventry earn first Premier League win in 25 years against Nottingham Forest
Jay Dasilva's goal secures a historic win for Coventry as VAR denies Nottingham Forest an equaliser.
Photo by Mike Demou on Pexels
Coventry City secured their first Premier League win in 25 years with a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Jay Dasilva scored the decisive goal in the 55th minute, assisted by goalkeeper Carl Rushworth. The match featured a controversial moment when Forest's Igor Jesus had a late equaliser disallowed by VAR due to a foul on Caleb Yirenkyi, a decision that proved crucial for the Sky Blues' long-awaited triumph.
The disallowed goal for Forest was the second instance this season where VAR intervened at home, following Neco Williams' goal being ruled out in a previous match against Tottenham. Despite dominating the first half with 14 shots, Forest struggled to convert their chances and were ultimately punished by Dasilva's well-taken strike, which marked his first goal in 127 appearances for Coventry.
Coventry's win lifted them off the bottom of the table, leaving them just above the relegation zone on goal difference. In contrast, Nottingham Forest remains without a home win this season and has only managed one league victory at the City Ground since December of the previous year. The defeat highlighted the pressure mounting on Forest as they continue to seek their first points at home.
Coventry manager Frank Lampard acknowledged the importance of the victory, emphasising the need for his team to remain grounded despite the win. He recognised the challenges faced in the early part of the season against formidable opponents. Meanwhile, Forest's boss Oliver Glasner reflected on the mental pressure his players felt, suggesting that overcoming this psychological barrier is essential for the team's future performance.
The match was marked by a high number of attempts, with a total of 20 shots in the first half, the most in a Premier League game without goals since January 2025. Coventry's defence also played a vital role, with Bobby Thomas making a crucial goalline clearance to deny Forest an equaliser before VAR intervened later in the match.
via Sky Sports