POMPEY'S HART IS BEATING AGAIN
Portsmouth 4 Wigan 0
WHAT a Halloween party this turned out to be for Portsmouth manager Paul Hart.
Sub Kanu came on to provide the tricks, striker Aruna Dindane produced the treats and Wigan, in their pumpkin-coloured shirts, were sent running scared.
Dindane has been threatening to light up Fratton Park for some time but all too often has missed vital chances to win over the fans.
But persistence paid off for the Frenchman as his well-taken hat-trick gave Pompey their first home league win this season.
Frederic Piquionne also scored his first league goal for Hart's strugglers, who not only scored four goals for the second straight game, but showed that despite all the problems that have beset them this season, they could still haul themselves out of trouble.
After the traumas of the previous few days surrounding both clubs, Hart and opposite number Roberto Martinez must have been thankful to finally get back to concentrating on matters on the pitch.
Hart had been coming to terms with the latest setback to hit Pompey - a Premier League- imposed transfer embargo until outstanding payments to Arsenal and Spurs have been paid. Meanwhile, Martinez had not only gone to great lengths to set the record straight over 'preferential treatment' comments about Alex Ferguson attributed to him in the Spanish press, but then had to resign himself to losing disgraced on-loan striker Marlon King.
As it was, Hart finished by far the happier.
Pompey comfortably secured their first home league victory of the season, clearly heartened by their midweek pasting of Stoke in the Carling Cup.
Despite that lop-sided 4-0 win, Hart opted to make five changes, with two of Tuesday's scorers, Danny Webber and Kanu, as subs.
It was a brave move, bearing in mind Pompey kicked off as the Premier League's lowest scorers with five goals, three of them at home. But with the Latics' hopes of a third away win of the season never looking a remote possibility, Martinez will quickly want to put this to the back of his mind.
After seeing his side get off to a hesitant start, Martinez soon left his comfortable seat in the dug-out to prowl his technical area.
Michael Brown, who quit Wigan in favour of Pompey in the summer, was eager to impress.
And the home skipper wasted no time in getting in a few tasty tackles to remind his former team-mates what he was all about.
But, perhaps, even they could not have envisaged that he could play such a delightful through ball for Dindane to pounce on, gallop beyond Titus Bramble, and slot past Chris Kirkland for Pompey's 35th-minute opener.
It was no more than Pompey deserved for their industrious and enthusiastic opening 45 minutes in which Wigan were pinned back in their half for long periods and never once seriously threatened David James' goal.
Brown played the anchor role while Kevin-Prince Boateng repeatedly thrust forward with menace, ably supported by Jamie O'Hara and Hassan Yebda.
Pompey's second in first-half injury-time showed that although Piquionne and Dindane have struggled with the demands of the top flight, they could become more than just a useful pairing.
Lens' on-loan star Dindane provided the clever through-ball for Piquionne, on loan from Lyon, to blast through the legs of Kirkland.
The loss of Piquionne just before the hour with a neck injury did not disrupt Pompey's rhythm and at least gave the Fratton Park faithful another chance to witness the sublime skills of veteran Kanu, 33.
His twists and turns mesmerised Wigan and they could do little as he provided the pass for Dindane to slide home Pompey's third from close range on 64 minutes.
James had to wait for 73 minutes before being tested by Scott Sinclair.
In the dying seconds, Emmerson Boyce could only trip Kanu to stop another mazy run from the Nigerian and Dindane stepped up to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot.
This article has 1 comment
Dindane is not french !
But great win for Pompey. Confidence will be flying high.
By Sanz. Posted November 1 2009 at 12:54 PM.