Portsmouth 4-0 Stoke City: Pompey Dump Stoke Out In Style

by Ash Rose

Portsmouth 4-0 Stoke City Line-ups/stats

Portsmouth produced their best display if the season so far by knocking Stoke City out of the Carling Cup with a comfortable four goal blitz at Fratton Park. Frenchman Frederic Piquionne netted twice and Danny Webber Nwankwo Kanu added further goals as Paul Hart’s men enjoyed a break from their relegation battle to make it through to the quarter finals of the League Cup.

Portsmouth were without  the cup-tied quartet Jamie O'Hara, Mike Williamson, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Tommy Smith. But were starting berths for Frederic Piquionne, Hayden Mullins and Danny Webber while Michael Brown returned from suspension. David James was denied his 800th club career appearance, with Jamie Ashdown coming in for the England goalkeeper.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis continued to use the competition for his fringe players to stake first-team claims, and made ten changes to his line-up from the win at Tottenham at the weekend. Goalkeeper Steve Simonsen retained in goal but Pulis ten fringe players included Tuncay’s second start for the club alongside the retuning in Dave Kitson in attack.

The home side looking forward to the break from domestic woes started the brighter and almost took the lead in the tenth minute. Frederic Piquionne shot was almost turned in by Danny Webber, before Nadir Belhadj follow-up shot from 12 yards out was blocked well by Leon Cort.

Seven minutes later though and the home side did go in front. Aruna Dindane turned Stoke’s Andy Giffin and fed the ball to Belhadj, who’s pinpoint left-wing cross was headed into Simonsen’s left-hand corner by Piquionne. It was the Frenchman’s second goal of the season after netting against Hereford earlier in the competition.

The visitors were struggling to get into the game and almost fell two behind before break. Michael Brown’s cross-field ball was met by Piquionne and the striker picked out Hassan Yebda. But the Angolian opted not to shoot and instead passed pack to Piquionne, and he dragged his shot wide. Brown then went close himself  after breaking free from midfield but couldn’t get his shot on target and Portsmouth went at half-time a goal to the good.

Stoke came out in the second half firing and almost immediately found an equaliser through Glen Whelen. But the Ireland international failed to keep his shot down and blazed over from 20 yards.

Things quickly swung back into the home sides favour and doubled their lead on the hour mark. Danny Webber pealed off the front-two and cut inside from the left to unleash a drive from the edge of the box that nestled in the corner of the Stoke net.

Three minutes later and it was three for Portsmouth and the second of the night for Piquionne. Simonsen dropped Brown's cross under pressure from Younes Kaboul and the impressive Piquionne was on hand to stab home from close range.

Tuncay thought he got Stoke back in it with fifteen minutes to go but his goal from Liam Lawrence’s cross was ruled out for offside. But it was the home side who had the final say with a fourth goal on 81 minutes through the evergreen Nwankwo Kanu. Glenn Whelan slipped in midfield and Michael Brown capitalised, providing the through-ball for substitute Kanu to slot in. A victory well deserved for the home team and one Paul Hart will hope spur them on in the Premier League campaign.