A few weeks ago, Tottenham might have seen Monday’s home game with Coventry City as a good shot at a first Premier League win of the season. That picture has shifted, because the newly promoted visitors have won their last two matches and climbed the table.
Coventry went into the international break after a clean-sheet win at the City Ground, then kept the run going with a superb 4-1 hammering of Newcastle United at home. The result is a clear warning to De Zerbi’s side that this fixture is a tougher test than it looked on paper not long ago.
Despite Spurs’ poor results, Frank Lampard has been impressed by what he has seen from them. They have been criticised for their performances and league position, but there have been signs of improvement lately, and the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford was arguably their best display of the campaign. The underlying numbers also suggest their league position flatters them less than it should, so Lampard expects a hard game against a talented team with an experienced coach.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Lampard said he sees plenty of quality in Tottenham and a very good coach, but that his focus is on his own side. He said the journey from their start on paper to two wins feels good, and that now is not the time for comparisons. He also expects Spurs to feel confident against a promoted team, which he said was fine, and insisted Coventry must back themselves and play with the same purpose they showed against Newcastle.
Alan Shearer has added a stark warning of his own. Tottenham’s comeback at Old Trafford, where they fought back after going down to ten men and Dominic Solanke grabbed a late equaliser, has given fans hope, but Shearer believes encouraging performances are no longer enough. With the club still without a league win, he sees Monday as a pivotal game.
The former Newcastle striker praised Spurs’ resilience against United and said it should give them a lift. But he stressed that they badly need a win, and that failing to beat Coventry could plunge them into a major relegation battle, which shows how big he thinks the match is.
For De Zerbi, it is a chance to land his first Premier League victory as Tottenham boss and ease the pressure building around the club. Coventry will arrive full of confidence, though, so Spurs will need to build on the Manchester United display and be sharper in front of goal to take all three points.
