MIKE Whitlow has been ruled out for two weeks after suffering concussion in last night's FA Cup defeat by Spurs.

He was detained in hospital after a clash with Dean Richards that at first sparked fears of a serious injury.

An examination today revealed that the damage was no more than concussion but manager Sam Allardyce said: "The injury caused him to be violently sick at half-time. He will be out for a mandatory two weeks."

The veteran defender spent last night under observation in a London hospital even though X-rays showed no apparent damage but the 34-year-old had a precautionary examination by a head and neck specialist this morning before being allowed home.

Allardyce, who was seriously concerned for Whitlow's well-being immediately after the match, was relieved when doctors told him there was no serious damage.

"The referee missed a very dangerous challenge," the Wanderers' boss said, voicing one of two complaints he levelled at Bristol official Steve Dunn. "But thankfully the people who examined him last night don't think there's going to be a problem

"Mick is not 100 per cent - I've never seen someone so violently sick as he was at half time - but he should be okay."

Whitlow's injury was the latest in a catalogue of casualties that are hampering Wanderers' hopes of mounting a successful survival campaign in the Premiership.

At White Hart Lane last night, Allardyce was without five players who would have been automatic first team choices after Fredi Bobic (calf) and Simon Charlton (knee) joined Paul Warhurst (calf), Per Frandsen (ankle) and Bruno N'Gotty (ankle) in the treatment room. And his options were further limited by the ankle injury that has kept Colin Hendry out of the reckoning for the last month and Rod Wallace having withdrawn from the squad because his daughter was sick.

Warhurst is expected to return for the home game against West Ham on Saturday, the first of six fixtures Allardyce and his players have earmarked as being make of break in the survival stakes. Whitlow must wait to see what the doctor orders, although he could have a big say himself in whether he plays.

"He did not lose consciousness," Allardyce said optimistically, "so he probably won't face the two-week mandatory rest period for concussion. But, even if he gets the okay from the specialist, I will still leave the decision on when he plays to Mick himself."

The manager, who was supported by video evidence and Glenn Hoddle in his protest over the 21st minute penalty awarded against Anthony Barness and from which Darren Anderton put Spurs 1-0 up, claimed another controversial refereeing decision had gone against his beleaguered side.

But he admitted Wanderers looked "weary" and had goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to thank for saving them from a much heavier defeat - just two months after they had been thrashed 6-0 on the same ground in the Worthington Cup fifth round.

"The only one to come out with any real credit was the goalkeeper," he said. "Otherwise it was a very average performance."