Piquionne puts four-star Pompey in command

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

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.

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.

Pompey almost snatched the lead 10 minutes in when Piquionne dashed into the box before forcing a goal line 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 out jumped Danny Higginbotham to nod home Nadir Belhadj’s cross.

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.

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.

PORTSMOUTH: Ashdown, Vanden Borre, Kaboul, Wilson, Belhadj, Dindane (Hughes, 77), Brown, Mullins, Yebda (Mokoena, 63), Piquionne, Webber (Kanu, 68).

STOKE: Simonsen, Griffin, Higginbotham, Cort, Pugh, Lawrence (Soares, 75), Arismendi, Whelan, Tonge, Sanli (Moult, 82), Kitson (Sidibe, 55).

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).