'Performances like this are no longer a surprise'
- Published
It was a Portsmouth victory which was not a surprise or an epic battle, just one that went to the form book.
An intense start that Stoke City could not live with, followed by a second half of excellent control that allowed Pompey to coast to a 3-1 victory.
Fans are now arriving at Fratton Park expecting performances like this rather than being pleasantly surprised by them.
The Championship table looks better than it has done at any point all season. Can Pompey finally find a way to get results away from home, and can they put in three performances in a week?
A trip to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday may help answer those questions...