Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)

PREMIER LEAGUE JEER WE GO

Defoe: Saints fans can boo me all they want

- BY ALEX CROOK

JERMAIN DEFOE is out to prove Bournemout­h are top dogs on the South Coast and warned Southampto­n fans: I don’t care if you boo me.

The England striker faces a hostile reception from travelling Saints supporters tomorrow, after spending a year at bitter rivals Portsmouth (below).

But Defoe, 35, said: “The Southampto­n fans can do whatever they want to do, I don’t care. I have scored a few goals past Southampto­n through the years. If they boo me, they boo me – it’s fine.

“If I played for Southampto­n, they would cheer me, but I don’t. It’s just football.

“Derby games are games you want to win and the games you look for when the fixtures come out.

“It means a lot to the players and a lot to the fans, but we have to approach it like it’s just another game and try to get three points.

“It is a game the fans will be up for and one we want to try and win.

“We understand it’s massive for the fans, because it is a derby, and they want the bragging rights. It would be massive if we can beat them.”

Bournemout­h can leapfrog Saints in the table with victory and Defoe added: “I’d like to think we are the top team on the South Coast and we just have to think about ourselves.

“When you get to this stage of the season, where the games come thick and fast, it’s important to get as many points on the board as possible.”

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