Lampard likens Coventry matchwinner Dasilva to Ashley Cole after first Premier League win

Jay Dasilva’s composed finish earned Coventry their first Premier League victory of the season, a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground on Saturday, with a VAR-disallowed Igor Jesus equaliser preserving the Sky Blues’ slender advantage.

The left-back ran through largely unchallenged before finding the net with a sharp first touch and clinical finish — a combination that prompted manager Frank Lampard to reach for a high-profile comparison.

“He reminded me of Ashley Cole because he scored a few of those,” Lampard said. “The first touch was outstanding and the finish was outstanding, and what a time to do it. He has been brilliant for us.”

The win carries particular significance for a Coventry squad that contains several players making their Premier League debuts this season. Lampard was candid about what the result means for a group still finding its feet at the top level.

“The players deserve it,” he said. “For many of them it is their debut in the Premier League — they haven’t been here before and they need to feel like they belong. They took on the gameplan really well. I am delighted for the players to have that feeling.”

Forest thought they had levelled when Jesus converted, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR review determined the Brazilian striker had committed a foul in the build-up. Lampard acknowledged the relief but framed the decision as something his side had earned through their work rate.

“You make your own luck in terms of VAR — I think it was a foul, but when you work that hard I think the boys deserve it,” he said. “It’s huge mentally for the team. Not everyone is a Wayne Rooney or a superstar that can just own it. This can hopefully give us confidence.”

Lampard also reflected on the tactical approach his side took against Forest, noting that Coventry had been more direct than he would have liked in earlier fixtures and that Saturday’s performance represented a deliberate shift.

“We know their system really well,” he said. “We tried to set up to give ourselves a chance to play against them. The first half we played well and I just wondered if we had enough conviction to score a goal — and Jay popped up.”

The result lifts some of the early-season pressure on Lampard’s side as they look to establish themselves in the Premier League.