Crouch wants to take heat off Adams

Adams' job is hanging by a thread just 106 days after stepping up to replace Harry Redknapp at Pompey in October.

And former Liverpool striker Crouch said: "We've all got a bit of sympathy with the manager, obviously. He's always the one who gets everything thrown at him when things go wrong but as players we know we have not been performing of late as well as we can. That's something we need to do to ease the pressure on his back."

He added: "I'm due a goal and I'd love to get one against Liverpool but not just to prove a point to their manager.

"Rafa Benitez didn't want to play me enough and it forced me to leave but I'm not bitter about Liverpool. I'd love to see them win the league but most important now, is that we get something out of them in this game."

Adams insists his employers, especially owner Alexandre Gaydamak, have given him no warning his job is under threat but he admits there were hard words between him and his players after the 3-1 defeat at Fulham last week which sent Pompey plunging to within a point of the relegation zone.

And Crouch admitted: "There was a ruck in our dressing room after the Fulham game. People spoke their minds but I think that's a positive thing. We've had other meetings since - both with and without the manager. We're trying to find a way to turn things around.

"We all know what a fantastic job Harry Redknapp did but since he's gone, we've also lost Jermain Defoe and Lassana Diarra. I think any manager losing that sort of quality would feel the effect.

"But we've still got enough here I believe to survive and I would certainly not say people have relaxed under the new management. We've got 15 games left to change it but we've got to start winning points now because it can suddenly all drift away from you."