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

Portsmouth 4 Stoke City 0

Police are set to continue their inquiries into an allegation that Blackpool striker Jason Euell was racially abused during the Carling Cup defeat by Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND midfielder Steven Reid made a return to action last night — playing 75 minutes of Blackburn Rovers’ 1-0 away Carling Cup Third victory over Nottingham Forest before being replaced by Irish team-mate Keith Andrews.

Burnley’s brilliant Barclays Premier League start counted for nothing against Barnsley tonight as Hugo Colace’s late winner left Owen Coyle’s men on the wrong end of an upset.

Stoke 4 Blackpool 3

Glenn Whelan, fresh from his appearance for the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday, could be left out of Stoke’s starting line-up against Burnley tomorrow.

Stoke 1 Manchester City 0

Ricardo Fuller returned to the Stoke starting line-up for the first time since his suspension for a bust-up with Andy Griffin at West Ham in December.

Liam Lawrence and Ricardo Fuller could be restored to Stoke’s starting line-up as Tony Pulis’ team attempt to turn around a barren run of one point from six Barclays Premier League games at home to Manchester City.

Tottenham 3 Stoke 1

Stoke’s hot-headed striker Ricardo Fuller is expected to be on the bench at Tottenham tonight after completing a three-match ban for striking team-mate Andy Griffin.

Striker Ricardo Fuller is expected to return for Stoke tomorrow after completing a three-match ban for slapping his team-mate Andy Griffin.

Chelsea 2 Stoke 1

Hartlepool 2 Stoke 0

Stoke boss Tony Pulis made seven changes for this afternoon’s FA Cup third round trip to Hartlepool.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis insists Ricardo Fuller and Andy Griffin have “kissed and made up” in the wake of their altercation at West Ham on Sunday.

Ricardo Fuller has accused Andy Griffin of being “very rude and disrespectful” in the episode which led to the Stoke striker being sent off for slapping his team-mate in the defeat against West Ham.

Stoke chairman Peter Coates has condemned Ricardo Fuller’s behaviour but indicated that the striker still has a role to play at the club despite some fans calling for the striker to be sacked.

OUR football correspondent LIAM MACKEY is back in top form and full of energy.

Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller will escape further punishment from the Football Association after his clash with his captain Andy Griffin yesterday.

TONY PULIS had called on Stoke to show some fight as they prepare for a nervy new year survival battle, but this was presumably not what had he had in mind.

West Ham 2 Stoke 1

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola was unable to field the same team which won at Portsmouth on December 26 for the visit of Stoke, with injuries and suspensions forcing his hand.

Stoke defender Andy Wilkinson has been ruled out of the Barclays Premier League match against West Ham at Upton Park tomorrow due to suspension.

Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen should be ready to reclaim his place against Manchester United after a scan revealed no serious damage to his injured fingers.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis will decide on the fitness of five of his players before finalising preparations for tomorrow’s Premier League clash at Blackburn.

DERBY, relegated in shame from the Premier League last season, are on the brink of a Wembley final after edging past Stoke in the Carling Cup quarter-final.

Stoke 0 Derby 1

Stoke 1 West Brom 0

Stoke 0 Chelsea 2

Chelsea will join Liverpool on 14 points if they can convert a 1-0 half-time lead at Stoke into three points at full-time.

Ibrahima Sonko will make his Stoke debut as a holding midfielder against Everton in the Barclays Premier League clash at the Britannia Stadium.

Stoke 1 Crystal Palace 2

Stoke claim referee Andy D’Urso has admitted he was wrong to send Potters defender Andy Griffin off in their 3-0 defeat at QPR.

DOES anyone really want to be promoted to the Premier League this season?

Derby boss Paul Jewell is hoping new signing Danny Mills will help reignite the Rams in their quest for a footballing miracle.

Danny Mills goes straight into the Derby squad for Sunday’s FA Cup third-round tie against Sheffield Wednesday at Pride Park.

Derby chairman Adam Pearson is ready to swell the Premier League’s foreign legion as he tries to transform the club into a major force.

Derby boss Paul Jewell faces a striker dilemma ahead of tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League game at Bolton after selling Steve Howard to Leicester.

Derby boss Paul Jewell has called on Alan Curbishley to end the speculation surrounding teenage star Giles Barnes.

Derby face Blackburn in a Premier League clash at Pride Park on Sunday with boss Paul Jewell’s squad at breaking point.

Derby manager Paul Jewell will take a head count ahead of his side’s Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool at Pride Park on St Stephen's Day.

Derby 0 Middlesbrough 1