Pompey rocked by Sherwood injury

Portsmouth 2 Spurs 0

The midfielder was felled following a crunching tackle from his former Spurs team-mate Mauricio Taricco and received lengthy medical treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off to hospital where he was to undergo X-rays.

Sherwood is now out of Sunday's Premiership clash with Chelsea and could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines if Redknapp's worst fears are confirmed, making him the fourth central midfielder currently in Pompey's treatment room.

"Tim Sherwood is the type of player you want on your team and he was having another good game today," said his manager.

"His injury looks bad he isn't in a good shape. He can't walk and it could be a broken leg."

The tackle was accompanied by a loud crack but Redknapp refused to criticise Taricco and said: "I heard something but it didn't look like a bad challenge from Taricco. I didn't have a clear view so I don't want to say too much." Czech midfielder Patrik Berger back after serving a one-match suspension handed Pompey victory with two blistering second-half free-kicks, the first a 35-yard screamer which gave keeper Kasey Keller no chance.

"The major difference today was that I had a few players back. I said at the start of the season that if I have my best team available then we've got chance," said the former West Ham boss.

Berger may steal the headlines with his two-goal salvo but for Redknapp it was the performance of De Zeeuw at the heart of Pompey's defence which really impressed.

"Arjan De Zeeuw was magnificent today. He came here on a free transfer from Wigan and he out-shone Freddie Kanoute, Robbie Keane and then Helder Postiga."

Spurs boss David Pleat insisted his side were on the wrong end of some harsh refereeing decisions and blamed a growing injury crisis for their current position of fourth from bottom.

"We showed a bit of thrust at the start got into one or two decent positions where I thought we would threaten. We went forward quite well," he said. "The game hinged on two free-kicks which were beautifully struck but they came at a time when every decision seemed to go against us. We gave too many free-kicks away and didn't keep hold of the ball.

"It's very early season but we're well aware that we're fourth from bottom. We've been decimated by injuries. This is the first time I've mentioned the number of players I'm missing but it is having an effect."

PORTSMOUTH: Wapenaar, Zivkovic, Primus, Stefanovic, De Zeeuw, Stone, Sherwood (Hughes 78), Smertin (Taylor 90), Berger, Sheringham, Yakubu (Roberts 84).

TOTTENHAM: Keller, Carr, Gardner, Richards, Taricco, Jackson, Poyet (Postiga 61), King, Dalmat (Ricketts 69), Kanoute (Zamora 85), Keane.

Referee: S Dunn (Gloucestershire).