Crouch took a return header from Jermaine Pennant by flicking up the ball and he then twisted to fire over Joe Hart from 25 yards.

He said: 'I do it every day in training, practise volleying. It is something I have always enjoyed doing since I was a kid.

'When the ball dropped I tried to pop it up and tried the volley technique.

'I do do it a lot in practice - it is not something that just happens - but they don't always fly in like that.

'I think that was probably the best one to be honest.'

Crouch's strike had little in common with much of the robust football before it and left the visitors anxiously chasing a result to keep up the pressure on Manchester United at the top.

They eventually claimed a point after Yaya Toure struck a fine goal of his own 14 minutes from time, albeit with the aid of a slight deflection off Ryan Shawcross.

Crouch said: 'Any team will tell you that at the Britannia this season we are a match for anyone.

'We have taken points off the best here. It proves something when in the dressing room you are disappointed not to take all three points. I really thought we could have done.'

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