No, but seriously. Maybe Frank Lampard and Coventry do have a chance of Premier League survival. A first top-division win since April 2001 was celebrated rapturously, victory an object lesson in staying in a game long enough to trouble opponents for whom confidence wavers, and finding the right moment to strike. After that, Coventry dug in doggedly, squeezing play such that Nottingham Forest’s creative talents were blunted, though City rode their luck with a late video assistant referee call that enraged home fans, coaches and players alike.

After Championship promotion rehabilitated Lampard’s reputation, Coventry’s troubled start to the season had revived doubts in his capabilities as a Premier League manager. Far too many echoes of a quarter century in the wilderness. Whatever happens, their fans, under weakening, early-evening sun, were determined to enjoy themselves, singing plenty of choruses of their boating song. Even if it’s for a single season, why not make the most of things? Jay Dasilva’s excellent goal was built on the foundations of a battling performance.

Nottingham Forest’s home league record in 2026 continues to be wretched, only Burnley in April leaving the City Ground 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, though like his team he is doing his best work away from West Bridgford.

A deft header to Liam Delap and a cogent flick to James McAtee suggested Gibbs-White, all glide and guile, was in the mood, though Forest never located the momentum to break down Coventry’s defensive shield. McAtee’s talents have never quite found their position but he is playing deeper as Gibbs-White’s creative partner. Delap has shown positive signs of being the player glimpsed at Ipswich and made an early barrelling run down the flank to fizz in a cross after a Cruyff turn.

In those early stages, Ephron Mason-Clark was lively in Coventry’s attack but suffered for a lack of support until a spell of sustained pressure had home fans groaning with concern. Forest’s home discomforts were continuing. The coherence of their attacking play ebbed as the first half closed out. Daniel Muñoz has been a palpable hit since following Oliver Glasner to Forest, and from wingback was often Forest’s most advanced player. He was, though, struggling to find the wavelength of his teammates. Coventry, defending in heavy numbers, reduced Forest to potshots such as Delap’s snapshot wide as Glasner showed his frustrations from the technical area.

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

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

Chris Wood, old reliable, was thrown on, as was Igor Jesus, Delap pushed to the wings as Glasner sought a way back. Bobby Thomas chased back to clear a chip from Igor Jesus that had Rushworth beaten. Igor Jesus did have ball in the net, only for the video assistant referee to advise Jarred Gillett that Caleb Yirenkyi had been fouled before the striker put the ball in the net. It looked harsh, Yirenkyi falling rather too readily under minimal contact. Forest fans have had their fill of video-assisted officiating. Their guttural rage came by contrast to Coventry fans now fully enjoying the ride.