Stoke City’s Lewis Koumas and Sam Gallagher react to Tom Cannon’s incredible performance.

Stoke City won their first game under new manager Narcis Pelach in dramatic manner on Wednesday evening, defeating Portsmouth 6-1.

The Potters had an impressive display at the bet365 Stadium, with Andrew Moran and Sam Gallagher scoring their first goals since joining from Blackburn Rovers. However, Tom Cannon stole the show, scoring four times.

Despite failing to score in his first three Stoke outings, the 21-year-old scored the team’s opening goal 13 minutes into the encounter.

Pompey did equalise with a sensational counter-attack led by Mark O’Mahony just before the half-hour mark. However, Cannon’s second goal and Gallagher’s first of the season handed the home side the lead heading into the interval.

The former Preston North End striker scored a hat-trick three minutes after half-time and added a fourth just three minutes later, allowing Andrew Moran to seal the victory in the 53rd minute.

Cannon’s colleagues respond to his outstanding performance.

Cannon’s four-goal performance demonstrated why he was so highly regarded over the summer, allaying concerns that his lack of scoring from last season would continue over to 2024/25.

All four of his goals were quite different from one another, including a free-kick, a penalty, a near-post shot while racing through, and a well placed effort in the bottom corner.

Cannon may bring his newfound confidence into the Swansea City meeting.

After failing to fully challenge opposing goalkeepers in his first three games, Cannon needed to get off the mark, and doing so in the manner he did would only boost his confidence.

In his previous two seasons at this level, he scored eight goals for Preston and only two for Leicester. In only 90 minutes, he has already surpassed his goal tally from his Championship campaign with the Foxes and is on track to equal his Lilywhites total.

The 21-year-old aims to continue his recent success against Swansea City, who have struggled in their first eight games.

Pelach’s squad must play free-flowing football in South Wales as they did against Portsmouth, as Pompey struggled to compete with Stoke. But they will confront a more difficult battle against the Swans.

Nonetheless, with Cannon now firing, the Potters will be looking to put together a run that will propel them into the top half of the division.