Hart happy to end his firefighting

PAUL HART has been forced to play the role of firefighter for much of this tumultuous season, but the Portsmouth manager now finds himself dealing with more trivial concerns.

The most testing scenario that Hart was confronted with on Saturday, after this riotous win, was an enquiry about the mental state of Tommy Smith, who was axed from his line-up for on-loan striker Frederic Piquionne following the striker’s Carling Cup brace against Stoke in midweek.

With all due respect to Smith, that should not cause Hart many sleepless evening this week, especially, as Aruna Dindane scored a hat-trick and Piquionne bagged his first Premier League strike in his absence.

Not that Hart was not prepared to offer some consoling words to Smith as he prepares for a possibly prolonged spell on the sidelines.

“Tommy’s been excellent, just like Danny Webber when he’s had an opportunity,” he explained.

“He’s worked tirelessly and been absolutely brilliant. When I signed him I read somewhere that he’s a Championship player but the boy’s proved more than anyone else that he’s a Premier League player.

“I got all the players in before kick-off and said I’m a very lucky manager because I’ve got people knocking on my door following the performance in the cup. I’ve got a team of players who are hungry to keep their shirt and that’s a good position to be in. It’s a timely reminder that there is competition here.”

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez admitted he was fuming after watching his side capitulate.

Martinez insisted the club’s off-field problems had no bearing on their 4-0 drubbing by the Premier League’s bottom club. He found himself in hot water over alleged comments that the Football Association were scared of punishing Alex Ferguson.

The Wigan manager denied making the remarks during an interview in Spain and later phoned Ferguson to clear the air.

That was followed by Marlon King’s 18-month prison sentence for sexual assault and actual bodily harm. King has been sacked by the club and Martinez was reluctant to talk too much about either issue.

“I am very angry,” admitted Martinez. “Sometimes the worst anger and feelings are always inside and I can guarantee you that it was one of the most angriest of days.

“It would be very easy for me to use what has happened off the pitch as an excuse. But our standards are too high not to perform the way we did.”

Speaking about King, Martinez added: “At the moment with the Premier League contracts, if a player gets a three-month sentence, it can be terminated. We are looking at that.

“I know the chairman came out with his and the football club’s view but until that is confirmed we will wait. But it is disappointing. I am sure it is disappointing for him (King) and his family. It is not a football issue. It is more the human side.

“It is important that whatever happens off the field, on the field we all know our job and what to do. “

REFEREE: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire) 7: On a busy weekend for referees, Wiley’s was one of the best performances.

MATCH RATING: *** Pompey made light work of inept opponents to give themselves a timely boost.