The joke was on Wigan as Aruna Dindane announced himself as a player Pompey can turn to for the goals to keep the club in the top flight in the most emphatic style.

Pundits and commentators struggled to muffle their sniggers and guffaws as Dindane passed up the chances which cost Paul Hart's side the chance of victory against Spurs a fortnight back.

The mocking finger pointing spoke of people ready to dismiss the 29-year-old as another two bob bit of business, a temporary arrival which would end in tears.

For Dindane just read Corrado Grabbi, Bosko Balaban, Massimo Maccarone, Albert Luque and the host of other bodged hitmen signings which have littered the top flight down the years.

But through the four goalless league games since his arrival from Lens, the feeling was the Ivory Coast international had delivered glimpses of what he could potentially achieve.

Just like his team have been serving notice of what they had been capable of achieving, so Dindane offered evidence of a marksman who could deliver.

And against shell-shocked Wigan it came together in the most dominant, irresistible and wonderful fashion for both player and team.

Those who have been watching Pompey regularly this season know they have warranted a far greater return from games than they have achieved.

They know the Blues have been in even encounters in all but one of their fixtures to date, and they know they have created chances and been let down by individual mistakes in every outing.

Hart has been sent out into the firing line to deliver groundhog day press briefings about the quality of his team's performances and his assertion a beating was coming for a side sometime soon.

That assessment, however accurate, was in danger of becoming Hart's epitaph as results continually went the other way for his men.

Pompey may have been playing well, but eventually any talk about the quality of the team would ring hollow without the results which matter.

On Saturday, however, the moment Hart had been promising and his team had been threatening arrived in the form of a hungry and merciless display of attacking power which pummelled Wigan into oblivion.

Not since Middlesbrough were sent on their way with their tail between their legs five years ago, had Fratton Park witnessed a performance which delivered such a margin of victory.

And it's been 22 months since a player wearing the star and crescent left the ground with the match ball for company.

That man was Benjani, who eventually came good after supporters delivered patience and unmitigated backing for the former favourite in the lean times.

Now a similar run could follow for his fellow African.

It could have been so very different though, had Hart chosen to go down a different route with his team selection.

Pressure was mounting on Dindane and his place in the team, especially with Frederic Piquionne's goal form in the reserves and on Carling Cup duty.

Hart eventually plumped for Tommy Smith to make way however, in what now appears to be the most inspired selection of his time in charge.

Piquionne and Dindane took a shaky Wigan backline to pieces with their hard running and movement.

There had already been a string of chances created by the time Dindane latched on to a Michael Brown through ball 10 minutes before the break.

The manner in which he advanced and dispatched a delightful dinked finish past Chris Kirkland offered the clearest indication he does indeed possess the mindset and coolness of an elite goalscorer.

What does need some work are his celebrations, however, as Dindane danced a jig of delight in front of the Milton end which made the X-Factor's John & Edward look like Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson.

It didn't stop Peter Storrie, Sulaiman Al Fahim and Avram Grant clapping like demented seals in the directors' box, however. Early signs are promising that Dindane and Piquionne can strike up a potent understanding.

That was evident as goalscorer turned creator for Pompey's second, and Piquionne dispatched his finish with the confidence of a player with six goals in recent outings at first and reserve-team level.

Pompey would have been forgiven for searching for a more resilient route to three points after the break.

But Hart's assertion that he is more attacking than people realise was given extra credence as his side continued their incessant demolition job.

Piquionne's afternoon had already been cut short after being dealt a blow to the head that thankfully is not of lasting concern.

His departure merely provided the stage for Kanu to enter the fray and beguile and bemuse the Latics with his magic.

Impact substitutes don't come better than the King, as he showed by threading a ball across the face of goal for Dindane to deliver a poacher's finish after 65 minutes.

Wigan were already out for the count by the time Kanu danced through their defence before being pulled down by the hapless Emmerson Boyce with time ticking down. It provided Dindane with the opportunity to complete his hat-trick and produce a margin of victory which did not flatter Hart's men in the slightest.

Just as positive as the merciless attacking display from Pompey was another shutout, making it three clean sheets on the bounce, and four in five.

So plenty of reasons to be cheerful. Even the Match of the Day panel found time for compliments.

The Blues' position at the foot of the table tells all that this is just a step in the right direction, but there is an undeniable momentum to Pompey's campaign now.

Halloween may be the day Pompey reflect on as the turning point in their season, thanks to a treat from Dindane.

Or as one enterprising radio commentator called it, a 'right Dindane do'.