PORTSMOUTH - PORTSMOUTH striker Frederic Piquionne notched a double as the Premier League strugglers reached the League Cup quarter-finals with a 4-0 rout of Stoke on Tuesday.

French striker Piquionne, on loan from Lyon, struck twice and set up another for Danny Webber before Nwankwo Kanu completed the demolition job.

Piquionne, 30, opened the scoring in the 17th minute when he outjumped Danny Higginbotham to nod home Nadir Belhadj's cross.

Portsmouth rarely looked like losing that lead and went further ahead in the 55th minute when Piquionne set up Webber, who took one touch before blasting home.

Hart's team were out of sight four minutes later as keeper Steve Simonsen fumbled a free-kick by Michael Brown and Piquionne tapped in.

Stoke's misery was complete when South Africa midfielder Aaron Mokoena picked out fellow substitute Kanu in the 81st minute and the Nigerian slotted home his first goal since April. -- AFP