Crouch and Defoe cement new partnership

Published on Tuesday 22 July 2008 21:51

PETER Crouch and Jermain Defoe have sent a clear message to their Barclays Premier League rivals and England manager Fabio Capello after finally launching their little-and-large strikeforce for Portsmouth.

The 18.5million pair, who grabbed three of the goals in Pompey's 4-1 friendly win at Bournemouth on Monday night, have never completed a full match in tandem before despite each winning 28 England caps and being on Tottenham Hotspur's books. Crouch, who made his 11million move from Liverpool last week, scored twice against the League Two Cherries and laid on another for Defoe – who is a full foot shorter than him at 5ft 7ins.

And Crouch, who has played for Pompey boss Harry Redknapp in two different spells at Fratton Park and at Southampton, insisted: "Myself and Jermain worked well together.

"I was really pleased with how it went. Three goals in one game together isn't a bad start. Hopefully we can continue like that."

The striker was sold by Redknapp to Aston Villa for 5million to finance Portsmouth's 2003 promotion campaign and then bought by Liverpool for 7million when the manager was at St Mary's and trying to save Saints from relegation.

Crouch added: "It is important to build up a good understanding. Come the start of the season I'm sure we will know each others' game inside out. That will be good for Portsmouth."