Stoke City 6-1 Portsmouth: Tom Cannon scores four in Potters win

The Potters came flying out the traps in the opening stages and Ben Wilmot crashed an effort off the crossbar from just outside the box after just 30 seconds.

It set the tone for a blistering performance and the home side got their reward when Cannon’s dipping free-kick bounced just in front of Pompey goalkeeper Will Norris, who got a hand to his effort but could not keep it out.

Norris briefly made amends when he claimed a free-kick and threw quickly to Josh Murphy, who burst away before squaring for O’Mahony to slot home the equaliser from 12 yards.

Stoke regained their lead shortly before the break when Gallagher threaded a neat ball through for Cannon to smash a pinpoint near-post finish into the top corner.

The game was put beyond John Mousinho’s side in first-half injury-time when Norris saw a poor pass intercepted by Moran, who teed up Gallagher to rifle home from the edge of the box.

Shortly after the interval, Cannon was brought down in the area by Norris after Murphy hesitated to deal with a loose ball and the 21-year-old striker dusted himself down to complete his hat-trick.

Cannon, who is on loan from Premier League side Leicester, added his fourth three minutes later when Bae Junho pulled it back for him to fire across goal and into the bottom corner.

Moments later, Junho then fed a ball infield for Moran to drive home from 20 yards and complete Stoke’s demolition of Portsmouth in five ruthless minutes at the beginning of the second half.

Pompey were able to limit Stoke from creating any further clear chances but the damage was done by the Potters, who scored five goals in 13 minutes either side of half-time.

O’Mahony’s first goal since joining on loan from Brighton became a mere consolation in a defeat that leaves Portsmouth 23rd, above bottom side Cardiff City only on goal difference, despite that also taking a severe blow.

A first victory in four games for Stoke lifted them six places to 15th.