Source: Daily_Mail
Portsmouth 4 Stoke 0: Piqiounne leads rout as Pompey cruise into last eight
After two months of near-misses, bad luck, unpaid wages and a change of owner, Portsmouth finally have something to cheer.[LNB]Paul Hart's side booked their place in the quarter-finals by scoring one more goal than they have managed in five league games at Fratton Park so far this season.[LNB]Whether it will be the catalyst to break their home duck in the Premier League on Saturday against Wigan remains to be seen.[LNB] Tap in: The mercurial Piquionne nets his brace against the Potters[LNB]Hart said: 'I think we have been threatening for a while to hurtsomebody. The players haven't always got rewards for their performanceand the chances they created. 'The whole group is totally motivated andbehind what we're doing.'[LNB]Frederic Piquionne opened the scoring when he rose above the Stokedefence to meet Nadir Belhadj's excellent cross after 17 minutes and hestruck again after an hour.[LNB]A Michael Brown free-kick caused confusion in the Stoke penalty areaand goalkeeper Steve Simonsen collided with Danny Higginbotham, leavingPiquionne free to slide the ball into the net for Portsmouth's third.[LNB][LNB] Happy days: The Carling Cup is proving a welcome distraction to Portsmouth[LNB]Hart added: 'You have to remember that, when we signed Fred(Piquionne), we were absolutely borassic and free sounds good. Hisgoal-scoring record wasn't the best but he's got other things.Hopefully he will be able to make goals for people as well.' [LNB]Danny Webber made it two after 55 minutes, cutting inside, rifling aright foot shot past Simonsen, and earning a big thumbs up from hismanager.[LNB]Kanu, a substitute, made it four when he latched on to AaronMokoena's pass, leaving the home fans dreaming of a return to Wembley,where Portsmouth lifted the FA Cup less than 18 months ago.[LNB] Three and easy: Danny Webber converts[LNB]Stoke had a goal disallowed after 70 minutes when Tuncay was flaggedoffside. Manager Tony Pulis said: 'The four goals we conceded were verypoor goals to give away. Our final ball was absolutely shocking.[LNB]'I was expecting us to come here and have a right go at Portsmouthand we didn't.' A plus for Pulis was the return of Mamady Sidibe, sincedamaging a cruciate ligament in March.[LNB] Good Gord! New Middlesbrough boss Strachan reveals nine transfer targets as fans spy his 'secret' shopping listPORTSMOUTH FC
