Tottenham shown exactly what they have been missing as Roberto De Zerbi wait rewarded

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It just had to be him. On his first competitive start in 536 days and against his former club, James Maddison provided the spark Tottenham have so desperately lacked.

Stood at the top of the box, primed and waiting, he whipped a wonderful right-footed shot into the far corner to give Spurs the lead in a Premier League game for the first time this season.

Roberto De Zerbi has been waiting for his side to make their lively attacks count – they have completed the third most final third passes yet had the lowest conversion rate in the division at the start of tonight – and Maddison’s goal ensured it took them just 14 minutes to gain the advantage against a resurgent Coventry.

Maddison looked disbelieving as he basked in the adulation of the home support, but his composure in moments where so many Spurs players have rushed to a decision signalled he was firmly in control.

On top of the world: James MaddisonGettyAs supporters urged him to shoot moments after his opening goal, Maddison feinted and dropped a deft through ball to Dominic Solanke. He fooled Coventry again just past the half-hour mark as he shaped to shoot on his left foot before dipping inside and whipping a dangerous inswinging cross just past Carl Rushworth’s left-hand post.

Constantly pointing where he wanted his teammates to go, Maddison forced Coventry’s defence into making decisions with his passing, movement and intelligence.

Maddison asked all the questions Spurs have failed to ask of their opponents this season, and in turn gave De Zerbi’s side balance and composure.

Spurs have been ferocious but frenzied in attack this term. They have brought energy and ideas without having the clarity of mind to take the right decision when it counts.

The returns of Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison could prove pivotal for Tottenham’s seasonPAMaddison changes that by knowing when to up the pace and when to slow it down. He provides calm amidst the chaos for Spurs.

On an evening when Dejan Kulusevski’s return to the matchday squad after 526 days out stole the headlines pre-match, it was Maddison who made the difference on the pitch.

A first league win of the season, and Spurs were good value for it, thanks in large part to Maddison’s influence.

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Spurs have needed someone to knit a series of promising performances together, and it should be no surprise that Maddison was the man to make the north Londoners tick.

Maddison makes Spurs a better team. He calms them down and breeds confidence through his quality with the ball – Omar Marmoush will have surely taken encouragement from Maddison when he struck Spurs back into the lead in the second-half with a long-range effort of his own.

Spurs have a platform to build from and their two biggest creative outlets back on the pitch after 17 months. De Zerbi will be thrilled with what his side conjured up tonight.