Frederic Piquionne provided the inspiration as Portsmouth stormed into the Carling Cup quarter-finals by demolishing Stoke 4-0 at Fratton Park.

The worst scoring record in the Barclays Premier League may have left Pompey rooted to the foot of the table, but they had few problems hitting the target in the cup.

Piquionne struck twice and set up another for Danny Webber before Kanu completed the rout to make it 11 goals from their three matches in the competition so far.

With a point to prove after slipping out of manager Paul Hart's first choice line-up, Piquionne dazzled and frustrated in equal measure.

The France striker, on loan from Lyon until the end of the season, was Pompey's most dangerous player yet would mix his box of tricks and turn of pace with some erratic moments.

Pompey almost snatched the lead 10 minutes in when Piquionne dashed into the box before forcing a goalline clearance from Andy Griffin with Webber lurking to help the ball home.

They could not be denied seven minutes later, however, when the ubiquitous Piquionne outjumped Danny Higginbotham to nod home Nadir Belhadj's cross.

It was a simple move as Piquionne set up Webber who took one touch before blasting home in the 56th minute.

Three minutes later and Hart's team were out of sight as Steve Simonsen fumbled a free-kick by Brown into the path of Piquionne who completed the simple tap in.

To complete the rout, Aaron Mokoena laid on a sweet pass to fellow substitute Kanu who rounded the beleaguered Simonsen before slotting home with nine minutes left.