SO PAUL HART was not talking gibberish when he assured the sceptics earlier in the week that there would be goals at Fratton Park this season. Not always struck by the opposition, either. Portsmouth’s first home league victory this term was achieved by Aruna Dindane, who scored a hat-trick, and Frederic Piquionne. The pair have been loaned from Lens and Lyons respectively.

Piquionne had already had a drive spilled by Chris Kirkland when, after 35 minutes, Michael Brown steered a through ball towards Dindane, who sidefooted skilfully past the oncoming goalkeeper. Wigan’s defence was flat, the upshot of appealing for a supposed foul on Scott Sinclair that found no support from referee Alan Wiley.

Then Dindane found Piquionne with a ball that indicated the two are forging an understanding. The finish was pretty smart, too, straight through Kirkland’s legs. Dindane’s initial goal, incidentally, was the first by a Portsmouth forward in a league match this season. “Aruna is very hard on himself and if I had shown frustration with him earlier in the season, it would have been counter-productive,” said Hart. “The only difference now was that he scored goals.” Dindane’s second came on 64 minutes when he poked home from close range.

Portsmouth’s good fortune was to play opponents who had to contend with the publicity over the jailing of Marlon King and the criticism levelled at other managers by Roberto Martinez. Only the players concerned will know the extent to which their own games were affected, but suffice to say that Wigan managed just the one notable chance, Jason Scotland stabbing a decent chance wide. “We were very poor on the ball,” admitted Martinez, “but I don’t think what went on in the week was a distraction.”

When Emmerson Boyce tripped substitute Kanu at the death, there was no quibbling over who should be entrusted with the spot kick, Dindane finding a corner of Kirkland’s goal. Fratton Park roared in delight. “We gained reward for our belief in the way we play,” said Hart.

Star man: Aruna Dindane (Portsmouth)

Yellow card: Wigan: Thomas

Referee: A Wiley

Attendance: 18,212

PORTSMOUTH: James 6, Finnan 5 (Belhadj 42min, 6) Wilson 6, Kaboul 6, Ben Haim 6, Yebda 6 (Mullins 85min), Brown 6, O’Hara 6, Boateng 6, Dindane 8, Piquionne 7, (Kanu 57min, 7)

WIGAN: Kirkland 5, Melchiot 5, Boyce 5, Bramble 5, N’Zogbia 5, Sinclair 5, Diame 5, Thomas 5, Scharner 5 (Gomez 59min, 5), Rodallega 5 (Kapo 59min, 5), Scotland 5