Defoe - Shield outing will help

Pompey striker looks ahead to Chelsea

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 11th August 2008

Jermain Defoe Portsmouth

Defoe: Ready for Chelsea

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Jermain Defoe believes Portsmouth's Community Shield outing against Manchester United will help them hit the ground running in the Premier League.

Defoe and new strike partner Peter Crouch endured a frustrating afternoon at Wembley as they were starved of service and unable to threaten Edwin van der Sar.

With the match ending 0-0 after 90 minutes, the Red Devils then triumphed 3-1 on penalties with Lassana Diarra, Arnold Mvuemba and Glen Johnson all missing from the spot.

But England striker Defoe was still able to take positives from the performance ahead of their testing opener at Chelsea on Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1.

Difficult

He said: "I thought we were fantastic defensively.

"United are Premier League and European champions, and it is not a bad achievement to keep a clean sheet against them.

"(Rio) Ferdinand and (Nemanja) Vidic made it difficult for Crouchie and me.

"But I think we will all be that much better for the game - and ready to face Chelsea next Sunday."