Winless Spurs return from Marbella needing a first win against in-form Coventry
On Monday, 19 October 2026, Tottenham take on Coventry at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in the final game of Premier League matchday seven. Kick-off is at 20:00 UK time. Roberto De Zerbi’s side are bottom of the table with three points and no win from six games, and took advantage of a nine-day break to fly the squad to Marbella for a training camp. Frank Lampard’s newly promoted Coventry are 16th on six points after back-to-back wins over Nottingham Forest and Newcastle. Andy Madley will referee.
“We are a great group of players, but we are not a team yet.” – Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi
Predicted lineups: Tottenham vs Coventry
The biggest Spurs news is the return of Dejan Kulusevski, who is on the bench for his first matchday squad in around 17 months after a long knee injury. Against that, Rodrigo Bentancur starts a three-match ban after his red card at Old Trafford, and Sávio (muscle) and Lucas Bergvall (knee) are fresh absentees. Pedro Porro is not quite fit, and Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Mykhaylo Mudryk remain out. Micky van de Ven is expected back in defence, and the main selection question is whether James Maddison or Conor Gallagher starts in the No. 10 role. Coventry welcome Taiwo Awoniyi back from suspension and have Kaine Kesler-Hayden fit again, but Luke Woolfenden, Aurèle Amenda, Josh Eccles and Haji Wright are still out. Lampard is expected to switch to a back three.
Tottenham Team News & Preview
The 1-1 draw at Manchester United was Spurs‘ best performance of the season, but it still followed a familiar pattern. They had seven shots to one in the first half and more of the play, fell behind to Bryan Mbeumo on 73 minutes, lost Bentancur to a red card for a headbutt and needed a 92nd-minute Dominic Solanke header to rescue a point. They have not led a league match all season.
That is the real problem: chances are not being taken. Spurs have three goals from 6.6 xG and the worst shot conversion rate in the division. Their home results tell the same story, with a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle, a 0-0 draw with Everton and a 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa. With Bentancur suspended and Bergvall out, De Zerbi has also lost two midfield options in the space of a week.
What works for or against Tottenham
- Three goals in six league games and no win yet.
- Much the better side for long spells at Old Trafford.
- Bentancur, Sávio and Bergvall are new absentees.
- Kulusevski is back in the squad and Van de Ven returns.
Coventry Team News & Preview
Coventry’s 4-1 win over Newcastle looks more emphatic on paper than it was. Newcastle had 67% of the ball and 19 shots to Coventry’s nine, shots on target were level at six apiece, and Newcastle had made several changes to their starting XI. Coventry were clinical and won the battles, which is how Lampard wants them to play: deep, direct and physical, with around 34% possession and a heavy reliance on long balls. The 1-0 win at Forest came from a goalkeeper’s long ball and plenty of last-ditch defending.
Away from home this approach has produced low-scoring games: 3-0 at Arsenal, 1-0 at Manchester City and 1-0 at Forest. Coventry have scored only once on their travels, and four of their six league games have ended 1-0 or 0-0. Lampard said before the trip that the club has overachieved in the last 18 months; a point in north London would fit that narrative nicely.
What works for or against Coventry
- Back-to-back league wins, against Forest and Newcastle.
- One goal in three away league games.
- Outshot 19-9 by Newcastle despite the 4-1 win.
- Haji Wright is still out, while Awoniyi returns from suspension.
Tottenham vs Coventry Odds
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Tottenham vs. Coventry Stats Comparison
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Tottenham vs. Coventry Form Guide
Tottenham Form, Stats & Data
Spurs dominate the ball but do little with it: 58.9% possession produces only 1.10 xG and 3.7 shots on target per game, among the lowest outputs in the league. The finishing has been poor, but this is not just bad luck in front of goal, because the chance creation itself is thin. It says plenty that their best-rated player is centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, and with Sávio, Simons and Odobert all out the attacking options remain limited.
Coventry Form, Stats & Data
Coventry’s numbers are those of a promoted side built to survive: the lowest xG in the division at 1.05 per game and a lot of defending, with centre-back Bobby Thomas their highest-rated player. The 1.75 xG against per game is a warning sign, and they shipped five at home to Brighton. Away from home, however, every game has been decided by three goals or fewer, and two of the three ended 1-0.
Tottenham vs Coventry: Prediction & Betting Tip
I cannot back Spurs at 1.54 when they have not won a league game and have scored three times in six matches. The more convincing angle is the goals line. Spurs struggle to turn possession into chances, and Coventry will sit deep, defend their box and look for the long ball, just as they did in their three low-scoring away games. Only two of Tottenham’s six league games and one of Coventry’s three away games have gone over 2.5 goals, and I like Under 2.5 Goals at 2.25.
The biggest risk is that both defences have shipped goals in bad spells, Coventry conceded five at home to Brighton, and an early Spurs goal could force Coventry out and open the game up. A likely start for Maddison and Kulusevski’s presence on the bench give De Zerbi more creativity than he has had for weeks. Even so, the pattern of both teams‘ seasons points to a tight, nervy evening.
I am backing Under 2.5 Goals at 2.25 with Winz, and I have it finishing 1-0.