Hughes fires Pompey to cup victory

Hughes spent the final three months of last season on loan with Town, playing twelve games and scoring Town's final goal in Division One in the 2-2 draw against Brighton.

Richard Hughes celebrates his goal with Matt Taylor

The 24-year-old has struggled to break into the Portsmouth team since suffering an injury at the start of last season, his time at Town provided a welcome break from reserve team football.

This season it took until the Christmas period before he broke into Harry Redknapp's plans. Since then he's made eight apperances before today's cup game.

The game will no doubt be remembered for the contraversial officiating by Matt Messias.

First he whistled for a free-kick when Liverpool striker Milan Baros was about to fire in front of goal. From the free-kick Messias awarded a penalty for handball, only then he overturned the decision after consulting with his linesman.

Messias' next mark/blotch on the game saw the awarding of a Liverpool penalty for Matt Taylor's clean challenge on Baros. Shaka Hislop saved Michael Owen's penalty to save some of Messias' blushes.

With 18 minutes to go Hughes, who came on as a half-time sub for Dejan Stevanovic, struck a sweet left footed shot beyond Chris Kirkland after good work for Berkovic and Yakubu.

The goal was Hughes' first in a Portsmouth shirt since his move from Bournemouth 18 months ago.

Portsmouth will now entertain cup holders Arsenal in the quarter finals next month.