Harry Redknapp last night accused Gennaro Gattuso of "losing his head" after the Milan captain butted Joe Jordan at the end of a tempestuous and remarkable game that Tottenham Hotspur won 1-0 to give themselves a excellent chance of reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Peter Crouch's goal 10 minutes from full time provided Spurs with a first-leg victory that was made all the more sweet because of Gattuso's antics and a dreadful two-footed tackle by Mathieu Flamini on Vedran Corluka early in the second half. Flamini, who escaped with a yellow card, apologised to Corluka after the match but the Croat was unable to conceal his anger as he left the stadium on crutches and with his right foot in a protective boot. When asked whether Flamini should have been sent off, Corluka replied: "He should be sent to jail."

Gattuso pushed Jordan, the Spurs first team coach and a former Milan player, in the face moments after the Corluka incident and, with his frustration visibly growing, he later clipped Crouch around the head in another off-the-ball incident. He picked up a yellow card that means he is suspended for the second leg at White Hart Lane in three weeks' time but is likely to be given an increased ban by Uefa after his ugly clash with Jordan at the final whistle.

The former Rangers player embraced a couple of the Spurs players but after walking up to Redknapp to shake hands with him, he approached Jordan and butted the Scotsman. "I don't know why it got so silly," Redknapp said. "Gattuso had a flare-up with Joe Jordan. I don't know why. He obviously hadn't done his homework. He could've picked a fight with somebody else. Putting his head into Joe's face, it was crazy. He lost his head."

Gattuso later apologised for his behaviour. "I'm sorry for the head-butt. I lost my head and I assume all responsibility for my actions," he said. "I don't want to say what we argued about but it was my mistake. It was my responsibility and I shouldn't have done it. I will wait for Uefa's decision. Jordan was busting my balls for the whole of the second half but I should never have done what I did. There is no justification. I have no problem with the Spurs players."

Redknapp was much more upset with Flamini's reckless lunge, which left Corluka in a heap on the touchline and unable to continue. The Spurs manager, who said Corluka will have an x-ray but does not believe that he has suffered a break, urged Uefa to review the challenge. "That is a red card all day. How has he not got a red card for that? It's an absolute disgrace. He could have broken his leg. I would like Uefa to look at that tackle. How the referee did not give a red card, I don't know."

The incidents involving Gattuso and Flamini stole some of the attention from what was an excellent Spurs performance. Despite missing the injured Gareth Bale, and with Luka Modric unfit to start the match, Spurs carried an attacking threat throughout but also defended resolutely when needed.

"It was a great night," said Redknapp, who singled out Sandro, Wilson Palacios and Heurelho Gomes for special praise, but urged caution ahead of the second leg, when Bale should be free of his back problem. "It was a fantastic performance but it's still all to play for. We've got to make sure we finish the job at home because we know they're dangerous and can score. There's a long way to go to get through this round."