TEDDY SHERINGHAM has warned Pompey to sharpen up their act tonight.

Pompey's skipper has told his teammates they cannot consider taking it easy at the City Ground for their third-round Carling Cup tie against Nottinham Forest.

He said: "There's a chance to get the Newcastle result out of our system quickly against Forest.

"But even that's difficult because they're flying high in Division 1. They're on a high. If they get a goal quickly they could get two or three."

Sheringahm reckons Portsmouth risk Old Trafford humiliation in the Premiership on Saturday if they don't improve on what was an overly laid-back performance in a 3-0 defeat at Newcastle last Saturday

Sheringham said it was time to re-discover the fight that marked the side's celebrated draw at Arsenal last month.

The Blues go to Manchester United on Saturday to face a side stung by their home defeat to Fulham.

And Sheringham insists Pompey need to get back to their battling habits before then - at Forest in the Carling Cup.

Sheringham said: "Newcastle was an eye-opener for us. When we went to Arsenal earlier in the season we knew we really had to work hard so we didn't get embarrassed by a team who can embarrass anyone in the league on their day.

"I don't think we had the same attitude against Newcastle."