"I think if you look at the way we've performed in the league, no side could bully us," said Crouch.
"People say it's the toughest league in the world, and the fact we've won eight games on the run shows the steely determination in the side.
"Everyone knows what a good side we are, but we've got steel to go with it. There's a will to succeed throughout the club.
"It was good to keep our momentum going by beating Newcastle. Eight wins on the bounce is fantastic in the Premiership.
"It's a big achievement going into what I'm sure the fans see as one of the biggest games of the season.
"We're full of confidence. I know how much it means to win a game like this, although I've had some mixed results in derbies.
"Everyone in the area wants to win and I know from watching the games on television over the years what it means to the players and fans.
"People may expect us to win but you've got to fight for every ball and earn the right to play and we're capable of that."