Portsmouth 4 - 0 Stoke City

Piquionne power pummels Potters

Updated: October 27, 2009, 7:00 AM UK

Frederic Piquionne provided the inspiration as Portsmouth stormed into the Carling Cup quarter-finals by demolishing Stoke at Fratton Park.

• Hart: Piquionne adapting

The worst scoring record in the Premier League may have left Pompey rooted to the foot of the table, but they have few problems hitting the target in the cup.

Piquionne struck twice and set up another for Danny Webber before Kanu completed the rout to make it 11 goals from their three matches in the competition this season.

With a point to prove after slipping out of manager Paul Hart's first choice line-up, Piquionne dazzled and frustrated in equal measure. The France striker, on loan from Lyon until the end of the season, was Pompey's most dangerous player yet would mix his box of tricks and turn of pace with some erratic moments.

Victory will have given Portsmouth a timely confidence boost ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Wigan, while Stoke will be wondering how they failed to create a single meaningful chance. Both sides showed where the Carling Cup sits in their list of priorities by make a host of changes.

Stoke unveiled virtually an entirely new team with goalkeeper Steve Simonsen the solitary survivor from Saturday's 1-0 victory over Tottenham. Only Younes Kaboul, Aruna Dindane, Hassan Yebda and Marc Wilson survived from the Pompey side that drew 0-0 at Hull with Michael Brown, returning from suspension, named captain.

Dindane was involved during a bright start, linking well with Webber in a move that eventually broke down when Piquionne was shepherded out of the area.

Pompey almost snatched the lead 10 minutes in when Piquionne dashed into the box before forcing a goalline clearance from Andy Griffin with Webber lurking to help the ball home. They could not be denied seven minutes later, however, when the ubiquitous Piquionne outjumped Danny Higginbotham to nod home Nadir Belhadj's cross.

The tempo of the game had dropped but Pompey still looked the more dangerous going forward. They created another chance for Piquionne when Yebda teed him up with a square ball but this time the 30-year-old skied his shot high over the crossbar.

Piquionne's ability to go from the sublime to the ridiculous was highlighted when he set off on a 15-yard run that saw him leave a string of bamboozled Stoke defenders in his wake only to then give the ball away with a dreadful pass.

Stoke defender Leon Cort made a timely clearance of Anthony Vanden Borre's cross as Pompey made a strong start to the second half. The visitors were securing plenty of possession but were toothless in the final third, a criticism that could not be levelled at Portsmouth as they extended their lead.

It was a simple move as Piquionne set up Webber who took one touch before blasting home in the 56th minute. Three minutes later and Hart's team were out of sight as Simonsen fumbled a free-kick by Brown into the path of Piquionne who completed the simple tap in. Stoke finally hit the target through Tuncay but the flag went up for offside.

To complete the rout, Aaron Mokoena laid on a sweet pass to fellow substitute Kanu who rounded the beleaguered Simonsen before slotting home with nine minutes left.

Hart: Piquionne adapting

Portsmouth boss Paul Hart feels Frederic Piquionne is beginning to adapt to English football after watching him inspire the 4-0 Carling Cup rout of Stoke.

''The penny is starting to drop with Frederic,'' said Hart, who made seven changes from Saturday's 0-0 draw at Hull. ''We have a lot of players who haven't played in the Premier League and it's a massive change for them.

''There's an English attitude to the game that Frederic has to acquire. He was recommended to us. When we signed him we were absolutely brassic (broke) and free sounds good. His goalscoring record in France wasn't the best but we hope he'll make goals for people as well.''

Pompey have the worst scoring record in the Premier League but have been rampant in the Carling Cup, with tonight's quartet lifting their total to 11 goals in three games.

''We've been threatening for a while to hurt somebody and tonight the players got the reward for their performance and the chances they created,'' said Hart. ''Obviously we need to take a little bit of that into our league performances. The players were determined to put a performance in.

''I was pleased to secure the clean sheet again. The more of those we rack up the better chance we have of winning matches. The number of chances we created was pleasing.''

Stoke made 10 changes and paid the price by failing to create a single chance, leaving manager Tony Pulis to lament their shortcomings in the final third.

''The four we conceded were very poor goals to give away and were typified by Glenn Whelan falling over the ball for their fourth,'' he said. ''When we got in Pompey's final third there were at least five occasions where our final ball was absolutely shocking. If we'd picked people out we'd have had great opportunities ourselves.

''Between both boxes we did okay, but games are won or lost in the final third. We weren't good enough at both ends. I was expecting us to have a go at Portsmouth and I'm disappointed we didn't. Those 10 players haven't played together much this season so you can't expect them to go out and put in a great performance.''