Pompey on the up after Crouch double

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

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

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.

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 after 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 Niko 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.

With 15 minutes remaining Sean Davis floated a corner right across goal, and Crouch leapt to power Pompey in front with another close-range header.

Davis then struck the base of the post, with Tim 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.