Dasilva goal gives Coventry first Premier League win at Forest
Coventry City have their first Premier League win. They beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 on 19 September to get off the mark on their return to England's top division. Defender Jay Dasilva, listed as a defender by the Premier League, scored the only goal in the second half to settle it, according to BBC Sport.
Forest thought they had saved a point at the death. Striker Igor Jesus put the ball in the net late on, only for the equaliser to be controversially ruled out. It was the closest the hosts came to spoiling Coventry's afternoon, and the call left the home end frustrated, BBC Sport reports.
The win changes the story of Coventry's start. As of 17 September, Frank Lampard's side were pointless and goalless in the league, with the manager still backing his players to find lift-off, according to Reuters. They had lost their opening three league games without scoring, for the first time in the club's history. A 5-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on 14 September had underlined how steep the step up looked.
There was context behind that record. Coventry had faced four of the current top five in their opening fixtures, an unusually harsh welcome back, as noted by Sky Sports. The run included games against Manchester City and Arsenal. It also included a 1-0 home defeat by Hull City, sealed by a late Liam Millar goal. Forest offered a more even contest. Coventry took it.
Lampard knows about turning a season around. He took over at Coventry in November with the club 17th in the Championship, the second tier, and guided them to fifth, according to Reuters. He faced the media ahead of the Forest trip, with the club publishing his pre-match press conference on 17 September. That belief finally got its reward in Nottingham.
What makes this stand out is the timing. One goal, one defensive hold, and a club that had waited for lift-off can breathe again. For the travelling fans, it is a day they will keep. For Forest, it is a missed chance that will sting, especially with that late equaliser ruled out.
