Peter Crouch believes that Tottenham Hotspur’s considerable collection of “Portsmouth old boys” will receive a hostile reception on their return to Fratton Park tomorrow.

Harry Redknapp is likely to be the main focus on his first trip back since leaving for the second time last year, but at least the Spurs manager will not want for company. Redknapp has taken Jermain Defoe, Niko Kranjcar and Crouch with him to White Hart Lane from Portsmouth in the past ten months — as well as attempting to sign David James — and all three could be in for a tough afternoon.

“I’m looking forward to going back,” Crouch said. “It will be a good occasion and there is a lot of recent history between the two clubs. It will be a tasty game and a hot atmosphere. There are quite a few of us going back and it’s like Portsmouth old boys.”

Crouch’s situation is not helped by the fact that he made outspoken criticisms of Portsmouth’s lack of ambition before joining Tottenham last summer, but he is unrepentant. “I don’t think I was talking out of turn with what I said about Portsmouth,” he said. “Everyone knows the situation wasn’t great, and the manager has admitted that. When I was a Portsmouth player it was plain for everyone to see, but I hope they’ve sorted things out with the new owner. I’ve got a great admiration for the club.”

Crouch believes that Redknapp deserves better than the abuse he is expected to receive tomorrow. “It’s understandable the fans are angry as Harry left them but that’s football,” Crouch said. “Harry did fantastically well for Portsmouth, he was probably the best manager in their history.

“He won the FA Cup and took the club into Europe. Portsmouth got a great deal of money from Tottenham for Harry and all the players that left. They have spent it wisely and I hope they stay up.”

With his side seeking only their second league win of the season, Paul Hart, the Portsmouth manager, is ignoring speculation that he will be replaced — perhaps by Avram Grant, who was appointed director of football last Thursday, or Slaven Bilic, who could be looking for a new challenge now that Croatia have failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

“I haven’t given it one moment’s thought,” Hart said. “I’ve got better things to think about. Whether I am being lined up for the chop or whatever isn’t one of them. Maybe ten years ago, with all that pride and extra testosterone that was knocking about in those days, it probably might have had an effect, but not now.”