Friedel's remarkable run over (From Haringey Independent)

Bard Friedel misses first Premier League game since 2004 as Hugo Lloris starts for Tottenham Hotspur against Aston Villa

3:12pm Sunday 7th October 2012 in Sport By Anthony Matthews, Group Sports Editor

Brad Friedel’s remarkable run of consecutive Premier League starts is over after Andre Villas-Boas has opted to give Hugo Lloris his top-flight debut for Spurs’ clash with Aston Villa this afternoon.

Friedel has made 310 unbroken appearances since he last failed to start a Premier League match in May 2004 and he was expected to return between the posts after Lloris started Thursday night’s 1-1 draw with Panathinaikos in the Europa League. However, Villas-Boas has kept faith with the French international in a side that shows two other changes.

William Gallas returns in place of Michael Dawson in defence, while Sandro gets the nod over Tom Huddlestone in the centre of the park for the game at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris; Walker, Vertonghen, Gallas, Caulker; Lennon, Sandro, Dembele, Bale; Dempsey, Defoe. Substitutes: Friedel, Huddlestone, Adebayor, Dawson, Sigurdsson, Falque, Townsend.

Aston Villa: Guzan; Bennett, Vlaar, Clark, Lowton; Albrighton, Delph, Holman, El Ahmadi; Agbonlahor, Benteke. Substitutes: Given, Bent, N’Zogbia, Westwood, Bannan, Weimann, Lichaj.