Tom Cannon scored four goals as Stoke City thrashed Portsmouth 6-1 to give new boss Narcis Pelach an emphatic first Championship win. The on-loan Leicester striker had not previously scored in the league since his double for the Foxes on New Year’s Day.

The game started with a flurry of action from Stoke, who were looking to make a statement after a disappointing start to the season. They hit the woodwork twice in the opening 30 seconds, with Ben Wilmot striking a left-footed shot against the crossbar and Will Norris thwarting Enda Stevens’ subsequent attempt.

Stoke continued to press forward, and Cannon nearly opened the scoring with a shot that went just wide. Gallagher also had a chance, but his shot was saved by Norris. However, it was only a matter of time before Stoke found the back of the net.

Cannon fired City in front after 13 minutes. Marlon Pack was penalised for fouling Gallagher and the 21-year-old Irishman curled in the resulting free-kick past Norris. The Pompey goalie played a big role in his side’s equaliser in the 29th minute. His quick throw freed Jacob Murphy whose rapid run and burst through Lewis Koumas and Stevens saw him tee-up O’Mahony.

That was as good as it got for Pompey. Two minutes before half-time Gallagher’s pass played in Cannon to shoot left footed beyond Norris. Stoke were only warming up and Moran seized on Norris’ dismal pass before assisting for ex-Blackburn striker Gallagher to rocket home from 20 yards.

Norris’ nightmare night continued when he was adjudged to have fouled Cannon, though referee Tom Nield initially appeared to signal in favour of the visitors. Cannon dusted himself down and fired his spot-kick beyond Norris. Three minutes later Cannon became the first Stoke player for 24 years to register four goals in a game with an angled left-foot shot.

There was one more moment of celebration for the home fans as Bae Jun-ho picked out Moran to finish in the 53rd minute as Stoke hit six for the first time since blitzing Liverpool in the Premier League nine years ago.

Cannon's Redemption: A Conversation That Sparked a Masterclass

The performance was a complete turnaround for Cannon, who had been taken off at half-time in Stoke's previous game against Middlesbrough. Pelach revealed that he had a conversation with Cannon after that game, where he told him that he believed in him, even after a few poor performances. He also told Cannon that he needed to feel free on the pitch and that he would be starting the next game.

“We had a very nice chat this week because I replaced him the other day at half-time,” Pelach said. “I said, ‘Look I cannot be waiting for performances in the middle of a game, I have to do what is right for the team but I want to let you know that I am going to back you. Three, four, five bad performances will not change my opinion about you.’

“I know him, I know he is a good player but he needs game time, he needs to get ready from a physical point of view. I said, ‘Life is about confidence and I have confidence in you, you need to feel free, you will start again.’ Even the performance against Middlesbrough I wasn't happy with, I'm not that kind of coach. I want to do something that is based on trust. It was very nice to listen to his answer as well. He’s a nice guy.

“We had a good chat together and today I'm very happy with his performance. I think he deserves this. On the pitch you do what you can, not what you want. There is an opponent in front of you and he’s a young player so we have to be supportive. Today he got his reward. I’m very happy.”

Portsmouth's Nightmare Performance

Pompey boss John Mousinho described his team's capitulation as the worst performance of his 20 months in charge “by a long way”. He apologised to Pompey’s 1,721 travelling fans for their side’s horror show.

“I haven’t seen that level of performance or the boys go under like they did for that 10-minute spell either side of half-time,” he said. “We got exactly what we deserved. We didn’t run, we didn’t compete, we lost headers, we lost tackles, we lost second balls. It was a big surprise because we have been so good in the last three games. We started abysmally as though it was going to be this easy game. I am not sure what the mentality of the players was going into it. But that’s my problem and I have to address it. Myself and the coaching staff will take full responsibility for anything we need to do. But the players need to look at themselves tomorrow when we assess the game and take a long hard look at themselves.

“The fans were amazing and didn’t deserve that. We didn’t deserve what they gave us. So, massive apologies to everyone who spent their money to come up to Stoke. It is unacceptable, we all know that and we are very lucky to have that backing.”

Irish Dominance in the Championship

The match was also notable for the large number of Irish players on display. Remarkably, six of the game’s seven goals were scored by Irish players. Cannon opened the scoring, followed by O’Mahony, who is on loan at Portsmouth from Brighton, and then Gallagher and Moran. Cannon's performance makes him the first player to score four goals in a Championship game in four years and the first to do so for Stoke in more than 24 years.

The Irish presence in the Championship was evident in other games as well. Robbie Brady played 73 minutes for Preston as they beat Watford 3-0. Festy Ebosele lined out on the other side of that game. In addition to Cannon and Moran, Enda Stevens also played for Stoke. There were four Irish starters for Bristol City against Sheffield Wednesday: Goalkeeper Max O'Leary, centre-back Luke McNally, captain Jason Knight and Sinclair Armstrong in attack. Mark Sykes also stepped off the bench. That game finished goalless.

Stoke City's New Era

The win was a major boost for Pelach, who is still finding his feet as the new Stoke City manager. He will be hoping that this performance is a sign of things to come for his team, and that Cannon can continue his goal-scoring form.

The win for Stoke also highlighted their potential and the impact of having an Irish contingent in the squad. With Cannon leading the line and Moran and Gallagher providing support, they have the firepower to cause a lot of damage this season.

The team will now be looking to build on this victory and continue their climb up the Championship table. With Cannon leading the line and Pelach at the helm, they have the ingredients for a successful season. The Stoke City manager is keen to get a repeat performance from his squad and believes that there is still much to be done for them to improve.

A Look Ahead

The focus now shifts to the next game for Stoke City as they look to maintain their momentum and build on the success they've achieved against Portsmouth. Pelach has a clear vision for his team and is determined to build on the foundations laid in this recent victory. The manager believes that there is still much to improve on, but he is confident in his squad's potential. The journey continues for both Cannon and the Potters, and the coming weeks will be crucial in defining their trajectory for the remainder of the season.