In an impressive Championship victory, Tom Cannon of the Ireland international football team claimed a commanding four goal tally in Stoke City’s 6-1 trouncing of Portsmouth. The achievement marked a triumphant first win as manager for Narcis Pelach.
Cannon, currently on loan from Leicester, had previously not scored in the league since he double-netted for Leicester on the first day of this year. However, with this match he not only debuted his first two strikes for Stoke City, but also managed to sink two additional goals, one of which was a controversial penalty netted in the 48th minute.
At the half-time whistle, Stoke led at 3-1, with fellow teammate Sam Gallagher opening his scoring sheet for the club. This was within a frenzy of five goals by Stoke within a ten-minute spell that bridged the break.
Adding to the flurry of Irish scoring, Brighton loanee and Ireland under-21 star Andrew Moran performed admirably by scoring Stoke’s sixth goal. This followed a previous equalising goal by his Irish and Brighton teammate Mark O’Mahony, despite a strong start by Stoke when Cannon breached Portsmouth’s defences at the 13 minute mark during a free-kick.
The tide turned against Portsmouth after a quick throw by the Pompey goalkeeper, Norris, freed Jacob Murphy, who sliced through Lewis Koumas and Stevens to assist O’Mahony in scoring. However, Portsmouth couldn’t capitalise on this momentum. Two minutes before half-time, Gallagher aided Cannon in securing his third goal with a tried and tested left-footed shot that sailed past Norris.
When Norris unfortunately bungled a pass, Andrew Moran was on hand to snatch the ball and set-up Gallagher for Stoke’s eventual fourth goal scored from 20 yards. Norris’ disheartening evening continued with an adjudicated foul on Cannon, a decision initially signalled towards Stoke’s advantage by referee Tom Nield.
The penalty rewarded to Stoke saw Cannon add to his haul, dispatching it beyond Norris’s reach. Just three minutes later, Cannon achieved an historic milestone, netting his fourth goal and marking the first time a Stoke player had done so in a match in over two decades.
The home supporters had another instant of jubilation when Bae Jun-ho assisted Moran to score in the 53rd minute, enabling Stoke to net six goals for the initial time since hammering Liverpool in the Premier League nearly a decade ago.