Portsmouth's little and large strike pairing of Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch were among the goals as Harry Redknapp's side defied a physical test from Stoke to win 2-1.
Pompey, in their seventh match in 22 days, went ahead through Crouch's spectacular 25th-minute overhead volley after Dave Kitson missed a golden chance for the visitors, who had two good shouts for penalties denied.
Stoke scrambled an equaliser from former Pompey striker Ricardo Fuller three minutes after the break but Defoe, who hit a post, restored his side's lead two minutes later.
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