Source: Telegraph
Portsmouth 4 Hereford United 1: match report
Another day and another member of Portsmouth's 2008 FA Cup-winning team has taken a significant step towards joining this year's extraordinary Fratton Park exodus. [LNB]Sylvain Distin might have missed last night's Carling Cup win over Hereford with a foot injury but not before he had indicated his desire to leave. [LNB] Related ArticlesWest Ham 3 Millwall 1Stabbing and arrests at West Ham v Millwall matchPremier League Transfer TalkSport on televisionEverton want an immediate replacement for Joleon Lescott and have already been in touch with Portsmouth to register their interest. [LNB]Paul Hart must be counting down the days until the transfer window finally shuts and he can simply focus on managing what amounts to the rubble of the squad Harry Redknapp had constructed when he left for Tottenham 10 months ago. [LNB]Last night, though, did provide a first real glint of light this season for Hart. Yes, Hereford are some 80 places below Portsmouth in the league pyramid and also entered the game without a win, but the emphatic nature of this 4-1 victory should generate some confidence. [LNB]Hart is also now hoping to further strengthen his attacking options after Portsmouth agreed a fee on Tuesday for Watford's Tommy Smith. [LNB]Reading have also had an offer accepted for Smith but the fact that Portsmouth have been able to bid around £1.8 million will provide optimism that a long-awaited takeover is now imminent. [LNB]Chief executive Peter Storrie is heading up a consortium that is expected to formally take charge today. [LNB]'Paul and I are actively looking to bring more players in,' said Storrie. [LNB]'With the addition of another three or four our squad size will not be a great deal different from last season. Then, when January comes along, there will be money to spend to further strengthen.' [LNB]Last night, Hereford simply could not handle the pace and power of Portsmouth's three-pronged attack and it is this area of the team that can provide Hart with most hope. [LNB]After hitting the post, Frederic Piquionne converted Niko Kranjcar's through-ball for his first Portsmouth goal and then provided the pass for John Utaka to double the lead. [LNB]Kranjcar ended the match as a contest on the stroke of half-time with a long-range strike before Richard Hughes added a fourth. Tristan Plummer scored what amounted to a consolation for Hereford with a second-half penalty. [LNB]Match details[LNB]Portsmouth (4-3-3): Begovic; Vanden Borre, Kaboul, Ward, Belhadj; Basin's, Mokoena, Hughes (Mahoto, 72); Piquionne (Kanu, 63), Utaka (Nugent, 46), Kranjcar Subs: Ashdown, Mullins, Ritchie, HurstHereford United (4-4-2): Bartlett; Green, Dennehy, D Jones, Rose; Godsmark (Jackson, 73), Lunt (Tolley, 46), Southam (Gwynne, 68), C Jones; Plummer, ConstantineSubs: Adamson, Valentine, Lowe, DoneRef: A D'Urso [LNB]
