Redknapp bemoans Pompey injuries

Portsmouth 1 Millwall

Having dropped only two points in the opening eight games of the season, you would be forgiven for thinking that Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, was beaming from cheek to cheek after his side disposed of Millwall with a 1-0 win at Fratton Park.

But instead Redknapp was more like a doom and gloom merchant as he predicted that his club's lead at the top of the First Division may not survive the winter.

Portsmouth overcame Mark McGhee's Millwall with more ease than the scoreline suggested, but Redknapp was left patching up his squad after he added goalscorer Svetoslav Todorov to an ever-increasing injury-list.

The south-coast club have undergone a major overhaul since Redknapp took charge during a disappointing campaign last season, but the former West Ham manager looks as if he may have more wheeling and dealing to do if the success enjoyed to date is to continue.

"Todorov has got a torn knee ligament and could be out for a while," a despondent Redknapp said after the win. "I think he has been outstanding so far and his general play today was fantastic.

"All the injuries we have are long-term. We are not going to kid ourselves, we are not going to run all over teams, we clawed a result today but at the start of the year no one knew who would finish higher, Portsmouth or Millwall, and they still don't. There is a long way to go. I'm going to have to try to get some loans in now because I'm missing eight players."

Despite Todorov's departure four minutes from time, it was his contribution four minutes after the break that earned Portsmouth the points. The Bulgarian forward, who failed to make an impact at West Ham under Redknapp, was found with an inch-perfect 50-yard pass from the midfielder Nigel Quashie before bearing down on the Millwall goal and sliding the ball past Tony Warner.

It was no less than the home side deserved in a combative affair with the hard-tackling London club, but it was Millwall who could have taken the lead on 14 minutes when former Fratton Park favourite, Steve Claridge, drew a fine save from Shaka Hislop with a low drive from the edge of the area.

The only other real chance in the first period fell to Portsmouth's impressive left-back Matthew Taylor, who was forced to watch a sweet right-footed shot cannon back off the crossbar from 20 yards out.

Portsmouth's usual star name, Paul Merson, came closest to doubling the home side's lead seconds after Todorov's opener, but spurned his chance by driving over.

Redknapp's counterpart McGhee admitted that were it not for one defensive lapse, he would have been pleased with Millwall's display. He said: "It was disappointing to lose the goal, it was diabolical defending. We have done a lot of work on concentration as well.

"The goal we conceded was more disappointing than the defeat."