Coventry delight in Jay Dasilva winner but ruled-out goal riles Nottingham Forest | Premier League

No, but seriously. Maybe Frank Lampard and Coventry can achieve Premier League survival. The club’s first top-division win since April 2001 was celebrated rapturously, victory an object lesson in unsettling opponents for whom confidence can waver. Jay Dasilva’s excellent goal was built on the foundations laid by a battling defensive performance that must be replicated on a weekly basis. Coventry, dogged throughout, blunted Nottingham Forest’s creativity, though could thank a late video assistant referee call that enraged the City Ground crowd.

Lampard declared, with his broadest grin: “I feel great, I feel amazing.” Next, as is his way, back to serious business. “The reality in football is you have to fight for it, you have to work for it, you have to have organisation.”

Coventry’s troubled start to the season had revived doubts in his capabilities as a Premier League manager and far too many echoes of a quarter century in the wilderness. Whatever happens, their fans, under the weakening, early-evening sun, were determined to enjoy themselves. Even if it’s for a single season, why not make the most of things? “Something we have to build on and not get too carried away,” said Bobby Thomas, having personified that rearguard effort.

“We are a team with a lot of players having their first stint in Premier League football,” said Lampard. “Not everyone is a Wayne Rooney or a superstar that can just own it.”

Forest’s home league record in 2026 continues to be wretched: only Burnley, in April, have left in defeat. The previous week’s victory at Aston Villa offered further confirmation of Morgan Gibbs-White’s importance to Forest, as if it were needed. He remains ignored by Thomas Tuchel despite verifiable claims of being the most in-form English No 10 around, only Pascal Gross creating more chances in the Premier League this season, though like his team as a whole, Gibbs-White is doing his best work away from West Bridgford. Forest hit 26 shots on Coventry’s goal, just three on target.

“We struggled with scoring,” was Oliver Glasner’s simple diagnosis. “Today was the first time I could feel the heaviness of the past, it was very quiet in the dressing room. When we conceded the goal, everyone was nervous, the entire ground was nervous and I think the reason is last year.”

An early deft header to Liam Delap and a cogent flick to James McAtee had suggested Gibbs-White was in the mood but Forest never found the momentum to crack Coventry’s defensive shield. McAtee’s talents have never quite found their position but playing deeper as Gibbs-White’s creative partner has suited him. However, the duo were far less in tune than the previous week. Delap has shown signs of being the player glimpsed at Ipswich but was another lost in heavy traffic, Forest reduced to potshots such as his snapshot wide.

Coventry’s kick-off for the second half saw their players line up in a formation resembling that for a rugby union dropout. It achieved little but previewed the long-ball tactics that brought about the breaking of their 25-year duck.

Loum Tchaouna, a half-time arrival, cutting inside to shoot, if too weakly to beat Matz Sels, might have served as a further warning to Forest, as within moments, Dasilva, showing admirable strength for someone of such diminutive dimensions and a beautiful first touch to beat Daniel Muñoz, blazed to a diagonal ball from his goalkeeper, Carl Rushworth. The finish was just as adept, the celebrations deafening. Coventry’s previous Premier League scorer had been Mustapha Hadji in a losing effort at Aston Villa that confirmed relegation.

For an increasingly ragged Forest, Chris Wood, old reliable, was thrown on, as was Igor Jesus, with Delap pushed to the wings. If anything, that led to Forest losing their shape and poise further, even if chances came. Thomas dashed back to the goalline to clear a chip from Igor Jesus that had Rushworth beaten.

Igor Jesus did get the ball in the net, only for the video assistant referee to advise Jarred Gillett that Caleb Yirenkyi had been fouled, and the on-pitch official agreed. It looked harsh: Yirenkyi had fallen readily under minimal contact. “I was worried,” Lampard said.

A shrugging Glasner said: “The referee decided and we accept it, that’s it.” Forest fans have had more than their fill of video-assisted officiating. Their seething, guttural rage came by contrast to Coventry fans now able to savour the Premier League ride.