Portsmouth manager Paul Hart defended striker Tommy Smith's performances after opting to axe him from the side against Wigan.

Smith had started Pompey's last seven Premier League games but made way for on-loan Frederic Piquionne following the striker's Carling Cup brace against Stoke in midweek.

In Smith's absence, Aruna Dindane scored a hat-trick and Piquionne bagged his first Premier League strike in a 4-0 drubbing of a woeful Wigan side at Fratton Park.

But Hart insisted his decision was no indication of how the former Watford man has performed since joining the Blues in the summer.

"Tommy's been excellent, just like Danny Webber when he's had an opportunity," explained Hart.

"He's worked tirelessly and been absolutely brilliant. When I signed him I read somewhere that he's a Championship player but the boy's proved more than anyone else that he's a Premier League player.

"I got all the players in before kick-off and said I'm a very lucky manager because I've got people knocking on my door following the performance in the cup.

"I've got a team of players who are hungry to keep their shirt and that's a good position to be in. It's a timely reminder that there is competition here."

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez admitted he was fuming inside after watching his side capitulate on the south coast.

Martinez insisted the club's off-field problems had no bearing on their 4-0 drubbing by the Premier League's bottom club.

Martinez found himself in hot water over alleged comments that the Football Association were scared of punishing Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Wigan boss denied making the remarks during an interview in Spain and later phoned Ferguson to clear the air.

That was followed by Marlon King's 18-month prison sentence for sexual assault and actual bodily harm. King has been sacked by the club and Martinez was reluctant to talk too much about either issue.

"I am very angry," admitted Martinez. "Sometimes the worst anger and feelings are always inside and I can guarantee you that it was one of the most angriest of days.

"It would be very easy for me to use what has happened off the pitch as an excuse.

"But our standards are too high not to perform the way we did on the ball. We gave the ball away too cheaply in important positions.

"It has nothing to do with what is going on around the outside. You need to know what you are doing in the dressing room and making sure you perform to the standards we have done so far."

Speaking about King, Martinez added: "At the moment with the Premier League contracts, if a player gets a three-month sentence, it can be terminated. We are looking at that.

"I know the chairman came out with his and the football club's view but until that is confirmed we will wait.

"But it is disappointing. I am sure it is disappointing for him (King) and his family. It is not a football issue. It is more the human side.

"It is important that whatever happens off the field, on the field we all know our job and what to do.

"The clear example is Portsmouth with all their instability and bad headlines, they turned out and performed the way they did."

Wigan's inconsistency is of concern to Martinez. Their performance against Pompey was far removed from victories over Chelsea and away at Burnley.

"There are reasons for that," said Martinez. "We are a new group with a different philosophy of playing. Sometimes you need to get through these painful lessons to learn.

"We went to Arsenal and could not be ourselves and then we beat Chelsea. The important thing is we learn from painful lessons and become a stronger and better team. That is the challenge."