Crouch swoops as Toffees come unstuck

Portsmouth 2 Everton 1: Peter Crouch scored twice as Portsmouth came from behind to beat Everton 2-1 at Fratton Park and breathe new life into their battle for Premier League survival.

Leighton Baines had fired the visitors into an early lead with a well-taken free-kick.

However, Crouch powered in a header to draw Pompey level on 23 minutes, and struck again from close range late in the second half to secure a vital victory for the relegation battlers.

Everton had gone into the game defending a five-game unbeaten league run and were aiming to keep the pressure on Aston Villa while also seeking to close in again on fourth-placed Arsenal, who now occupy the coveted final Champions League spot.

The visitors got off to the perfect start when they took the lead after just four minutes. Sylvain Distin bundled over Louis Saha, who was leading the attack in the absence of injured Tim Cahill, to concede a free-kick just outside the penalty arc.

Leighton Baines stepped forwards, then curled the ball left-footed over the wall and in off David James’ far post as the Fratton Park faithful were stunned.

Pompey grabbed an equaliser on 23 minutes, after referee Peter Walton had given a corner when Glen Johnson’s shot did not appear to come off Baines. The delivery was only half-cleared, with Kranjcar lofting the ball back into the danger area. Johnson headed it across the six-yard box, where Crouch arrived to power in his second goal in as many games.

After 35 minutes, Jo was presented with a golden chance to put Everton back in front when the ball dropped to him on the edge of the area following Sol Campbell’s looping header.

The Brazilian struck the ball well enough, but dragged it wide.

On 53 minutes, David Nugent — born on Merseyside and who supported Everton as a boy — sent over a floating cross from the left wing, which Crouch diverted goalwards with a looping header, but Everton keeper Tim Howard collected on the line.

The American was then out of his goal quickly to block bravely at the feet of Nugent, who had cut in towards the near post.

Kaboul’s cross from the right almost sneaked in at the near post, before, with 16 minutes left, Kanu replaced Nugent. From the resulting corner, which Sean Davis floated right across goal, Crouch leapt to power Pompey in front with another close-range header.

Davis then struck the base of the post, with Howard beaten, from 20 yards as Pompey finished the match in style to give themselves renewed hope of beating the drop.

Paul Hart’s men left the field to a standing ovation and chants of ‘we are staying up’ ringing around Fratton Park.

Based on this battling performance, few could argue.