Rate it!

8 votes

Portsmouth saw off Stoke City 2-1 at Fratton Park thanks to a spectacular Peter Crouch overhead kick and a clinical Jermain Defoe finish.

Both Pompey strikers were on target to ensure that Harry Redknapp's team secured their fourth win of the season and move up to seventh in the table.

Crouch scored the first with a fantastic goal from inside the box on 25 minutes and Defoe bagged the winner for the hosts with a superb individual effort moments after Stoke had restored parity early in the second half.

Just minutes into the game it looked as though Tony Pulis's Stoke would find it very hard to find their first Premier League away win as Pompey settled quickly.

While Redknapp's side were trying to weave holes through the opposition defence the visitors were content to bombard the home side's box with long throws from Rory Delap.

Dave Kitson had an opportunity to put the North West outfit ahead against the run of play but the former Reading man, who was one on one with David James, could only lift his effort over the keeper and wide right.

After much probing from Pompey they finally got their breakthrough after 25 minutes. A poor clearance from only managed to find its way to Sean Davis. Davis passed to Defoe - just outside the box on the left - who dinked a superb pass towards Crouch. Crouch seemed to defy gravity and sent a spectacular overhead kick crashing into Steve Simonsen's net.

The remained of the half was played at a slow tempo and aside from half chances from Defoe and Crouch neither side looked like scoring.

The second half stared with a bang and Ricardo Fuller scored the equaliser just moments in. The powerful striker was first to react to a Kitson flick on from a long Delap throw and made no mistake firing home a powerful header from close range.

This sparked Portsmouth into life and within minutes Defoe had rattled the woodwork with a drive from 30 yards. Seconds later he made no mistake and sent a shot from 20 yards out into the bottom left of the net.

The visitors were lucky not to ship in more goals and will have stand in keeper Simonsen to thank for keeping the score line respectable.

After regaining the lead Harry Redknapp's charges looked very comfortable and it never really look like they would another goal.

The Potters are now in the relegation places and have only won one of their seven Premier League games to date.

Fintan Quinn / Eurosport