Portsmouth winger Steve Stone has warned Harry Redknapp's side to expect a tough winter as the reality of life in the Barclaycard Premiership begins to bite.

After three straight defeats, Portsmouth's bright start has slipped and they are now just three points off the relegation zone, leading Stone to demand more new faces.

"We're going to need more players when the transfer window opens again in January,'' Stone said.

"Probably another couple at least because there is a long cold winter ahead if we carry on as we did against Charlton in the last 20 minutes.

"We have to strengthen and I think we will because, after Christmas, as well as the inevitable injuries, suspensions come into play. All clubs get them and only the bigger squads survive.

"You must try to progress all the time. You can't afford to stand still. I don't know if it will be just loan-signings we make but we must add some more numbers.

"I look at what Steve Bruce did at Birmingham last season when they were struggling in their first year in the Premiership. He brought in four or five halfway through and they stayed up comfortably. Now they are doing really well.

"We have enough quality here to survive at this level but it is what could happen to players that is worrying - and who there is to replace them. It doesn't get any easier when you are bit older like some of us.''

The first cracks are beginning to appear now in Pompey's first top-flight campaign for 14 years, although they were unfortunate to lose against Charlton on Saturday.

Teddy Sheringham's sixth goal of the season put Portsmouth ahead and they should have scored more before Charlton boss Alan Curbishley pulled off a master stroke in sending on substitutes Paolo di Canio and Jon Fortune.

Fortune stabbed an equaliser with 12 minutes left when Pompey failed to clear a long throw and di Canio earned a stoppage-time corner when forcing Shaka Hislop's first serious save of the match.

He took the flag-kick himself, landing the ball on the head of unmarked Shaun Bartlett who nodded the winner.