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.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.Whether it will be the catalyst to break their home duck in the Premier League on Saturday against Wigan remains to be seen. Tap in: The mercurial Piquionne nets his brace against the PottersHart 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.'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.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. Happy days: The Carling Cup is proving a welcome distraction to PortsmouthHart 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.' Danny Webber made it two after 55 minutes, cutting inside, rifling aright foot shot past Simonsen, and earning a big thumbs up from hismanager.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. Three and easy: Danny Webber convertsStoke 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.'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. Good Gord! New Middlesbrough boss Strachan reveals nine transfer targets as fans spy his 'secret' shopping listPORTSMOUTH FC

Source: Daily_Mail