Following a goalless 90 minutes, Defoe was Pompey's only successful penalty taker in Sunday's shootout as United won 3-1 after Lassana Diarra, Glen Johnson and Arnold Mvuemba all failed to convert.

But Defoe, whose new partnership with 6ft 7in Peter Crouch suffered a tough baptism, said: "I thought we were fantastic defensively.

much better

"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."