Crouch stands tall and lifts Hart to new heights

PAUL HART always knew Peter Crouch would make it big.

The beanpole Portsmouth forward used every inch of his enormous frame to sink an unusually insipid Everton and edge Hart’s side three points clear of the relegation zone.

Crouch, 28, has had the archetypal journeyman career, having already played for seven different clubs, but Hart has been a fan ever since he was involved in the youth set-up at Nottingham Forest.

“I have seen Peter play since he was 16 years of age, so what he can do does not surprise me,” said Hart, who is in charge of Pompey until the end of the season. “I was academy manager at Nottingham Forest when Peter was coming through, so we used to play against him and I was told ‘you are going to see something with this fella’.

“He was like he is now, gangly, and it takes a bit of time to get used to him, but once you see through that initial view, he knocked my head off, even at a young age.

“He was more than just a 6ft 5ins guy who could head it, he could really get hold of the ball.

“I might have only had him for five games, but Peter has got more to offer than just smacking balls into the box at him.”

Despite their win on Saturday — which inflicted only a second defeat on Everton in 19 games — Hart knows Pompey’s work is far from done.

“Everybody in the squad is just getting their heads down and trying to get out of his mess,” he said.

“If we take the foot off the pedal in this relegation battle, we will get a rude awakening.

“If you do not give each team the respect they deserve, and think you can just waltz around, then you will get your backsides felt.

“There will be no complacency from us because we cannot afford any.”

Everton had started brightly and took the lead through a well executed free-kick from Leighton Baines — who was surprisingly called into the England squad last night — after just four minutes.

However, the Toffees then failed to consolidate their position and allowed Portsmouth back into the match when Crouch nodded home a corner on 23 minutes before another close-range header late in the second half proved decisive.

“We feel bad, and I had forgotten what it felt like,” Moyes said. “I always take the defeats hard.

“I do not want to lose, and that is why we are getting better because I take the lead and do not like losing.”

Nevertheless, Everton’s season remains very much alive. There is an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United to come next month along with the chance to secure European football once again via a top-six, or better, finish.

“We have still got so much to play for which is terrific, and there is a motivation for all of the players,” Moyes added.

“So let’s hope the ones who got chances will play better when another one comes along.”

PORTSMOUTH (4-4-2): James 5, Kaboul 6, Campbell 6, Distin 6, Hreidarsson 7, Johnson 7, Davis 6, Mullins 6, Nugent 6 (Kanu 74, 5), Kranjcar 6, Crouch 8.

Subs Not Used: Begovic, Pamarot, Utaka, Hughes, Basinas, Belhadj.

EVERTON (4-1-3-2): Howard 6, Jacobsen 6 (Gosling 86, 5), Jagielka 6, Lescott 7,

Baines 7, Osman 5, Fellaini 6, Neville 6, Pienaar 5, Saha 6, Jo 6 (Rodwell 90, 5).

Subs Not Used: Nash, Castillo, Agard, Baxter, Wallace.

REFEREE: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire) 6: Might have given a penalty for a handball by Glen Johnson.

MATCH RATING: ** Pompey deserved the points against unusually flaky opponents.