Parker starts for Spurs

Scott Parker made his first start of the season as Tottenham looked to avoid an upset against Coventry in the third round of the FA Cup.

Scott Parker makes his first start of the season today as Tottenham look to avoid an upset against Coventry in the third round of the FA Cup.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto also returns after a four-month absence in defence while Brad Friedel was been handed a rare start in a team that contains seven changes from the XI that beat Reading on New Year’s Day.

Coventry hand Leon Clarke his debut up front as the Sky Blues looked to record an unlikely victory over the Londoners, as they did 26 years ago in the FA Cup final.

Tottenham: Friedel, Naughton, Dawson, Caulker, Assou-Ekotto, Huddlestone, Parker, Sigurdsson, Dempsey, Adebayor, Bale.

Subs: Lloris, Vertonghen, Lennon, Defoe, Dembele, Townsend, Carroll.

Coventry: Murphy, Adams, Edjenguele, Wood, Jordan Clarke, Baker, Jennings, Bailey, McSheffrey, Moussa, Leon Clarke.

Subs: Dunn, Thomas, Cameron, Fleck, Elliott, Barton, Christie.

Referee: Michael Naylor.