Source: Eurosport
Injuries mar win for Spurs
Harry Redknapp was counting the cost of keeping intact Tottenham's 100% start to the season after Saturday's 2-1 victory over Birmingham.[LNB] Aaron Lennon's strike deep into stoppage time at White Hart Lane made it four wins out of four for Spurs in the Barclays Premier League this season. But Tottenham manager Redknapp saw Ledley King suffer a groin strain which forced him to substitute his key central defender at half-time, while influential midfielder Luka Modric limped off in the second half with a "nasty" injury. [LNB] Redknapp said: "Ledley has done his groin and we don't know how long he will be out yet. But Modric's looked like a nasty injury on the side of the right calf. If we lose Ledley and Modric with Michael Dawson and Jonathan Woodgate already out, the squad is a bit short." [LNB] Spurs confirmed on Sunday Modric had suffered a broken leg, which was bad news for Redknapp but could be significant for England with the Croatian now set to miss the World Cup qualifier at Wembley a week on Wednesday. Redknapp admitted it would be difficult to bring in reinforcements, even on loan, before the transfer window closes on Tuesday. [LNB] The Tottenham boss, however, was delighted with the victory which looked in danger once Birmingham midfielder Lee Bowyer had side-footed home the equaliser following Peter Crouch's opener. [LNB] Redknapp, who praised the work of Crouch after he came on for Modric in the second half, said: "We battered them and should have been out of sight by half-time. Crouch was terrific and could have scored three or four, but we gave a terrible goal away which gave them heart. [LNB] "They came back strongly and looked as likely to win it as we were in the last 15 minutes. In the end it's a great result and a great 12 points so far."[LNB] Birmingham manager Alex McLeish was understandably stunned by the dramatic ending. [LNB] "It was a boot in the proverbials," McLeish said of Lennon's winner. "But life goes on. We deserved something for our second-half performance."[LNB] "We could have won the game at the end after we equalised and I'm disappointed not to have taken three points. You need a bit of luck. Spurs could easily have lost that game. The longer the game went on Spurs got more nervous and one goal is never enough."
