Paul Hart has challenged his Portsmouth players to emulate their Carling Cup form in the Premier League.

Pompey romped into the quarter-finals with a 4-0 victory over Stoke, inspired by French striker Frederic Piquionne, who finished with two goals and created a third.

Rooted to the foot of the Premier League since the start of the season, Hart hopes his players' confidence levels will have risen ahead of Saturday's clash with Wigan

"We've been threatening for a while to hurt somebody and against Stoke we got the reward for our performance and the chances we created," said Hart.

"Obviously we need to take a little bit of that into our league performances.

"I was pleased to secure the clean sheet again. The more of those we rack up the better chance we have of winning matches.

"The number of chances we created was pleasing."

Piquionne nodded home Nadir Belhadj's cross to score the opener, laid on the pass for Danny Webber to slot home and capitalised on a error by keeper Steve Simonsen to lift his tally for the season to three.

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.

Piquionne, who has been signed on a season-long loan from Lyon, has been frozen out of the first team picture since September but Hart was pleased with his contribution against Stoke.

"The penny is starting to drop with Frederic Piquionne," said Hart, who made seven changes from Saturday's 0-0 draw at Hull.

"His goalscoring record in France wasn't the best but we hope he'll make goals for people as well."

Stoke trumped Pompey by making 10 changes and paid the price by failing to create a single chance, leaving manager Tony Pulis to lament their shortcomings in the final third.

"The four we conceded were very poor goals to give away and were typified by Glenn Whelan falling over the ball for their fourth," he said.

"When we got in Pompey's final third there were at least five occasions where our final ball was absolutely shocking.

"Between both boxes we did okay, but games are won or lost in the final third. We weren't good enough at both ends."