Republic of Ireland international Tom Cannon scored four goals as Stoke thrashed Portsmouth 6-1 to give new boss Narcis Pelach an emphatic first Championship win as Potters boss.
The on-loan Leicester striker had not previously scored in the league since his double for the Foxes on New Year's Day.
But the 21-year-old, who won his first Boys in Green cap in a friendly against Portugal in June, netted his first two goals for the club and Sam Gallagher also opened his account as City led 3-1 at half-time.
And, as City went goal crazy with five in a 10-minute spell either side of the break, he added two more, including a contentious 48th-minute penalty.
Brighton loanee and Ireland international Andrew Moran also got in the act with Stoke's sixth after Moran's Seagulls' team-mate and fellow Irish Under-21 player Mark O'Mahony equalised for John Mousinho's side after 29 minutes.
Portsmouth's defeat set an unwanted post-war record of eight league games without a win at the start of a new campaign.
Cannon fired City in front after 13 minutes. Marlon Pack was penalised for fouling Gallagher and the former Everton forward curled in the resulting free-kick past Will Norris.
The Pompey goalie played a big role in his side's equaliser in the 29th minute. His quick throw freed Jacob Murphy whose rapid run and burst through Lewis Koumas and Stevens saw him tee-up ex-Cork City striker O'Mahony.
That was as good as it got for Pompey. Two minutes before half-time Gallagher's pass played in Cannon to shoot left footed beyond Norris.
Stoke were only warming up and Moran seized on Norris' dismal pass before assisting for ex-Blackburn striker Gallagher to rocket home from 20 yards.
Norris' nightmare night continued when he was adjudged to have fouled Cannon, though referee Tom Nield initially appeared to signal in favour of the visitors.
Cannon dusted himself down and fired his spot-kick beyond the shell shocked Norris.
Three minutes later Cannon became the first Stoke player for 24 years to register four goals in a game with an angled left-foot shot.
There was one more moment of celebration for the home fans as Bae Jun-ho picked out Moran to finish in the 53rd minute as Stoke hit six for the first time since blitzing Liverpool in the Premier League nine years ago.
Sheffield United extended their unbeaten start and climbed up to third place after beating Swansea 1-0 at Bramall Lane.
Swansea defender Josh Tymon's first-half own goal proved decisive, while the Blades also hit the woodwork twice in the second period as they secured their fifth league win of the season.
The visitors were left to rue a glaring miss by on-loan Brentford midfielder Myles Peart-Harris just before falling behind and they dropped one place to 12th after going down to their third league defeat.
Milutin Osmajic scored twice as Preston moved out of the relegation zone with a 3-0 win over Watford at Deepdale.
Osmajic, last week was charged by the Football Association with biting an opponent, responded to being brought into the starting line-up by boss Paul Heckingbottom by putting the hosts ahead with a finish eight minutes after the break, before adding a second in the 65th minute.
A superb Ali McCann strike subsequently extended the advantage with 15 minutes remaining as Preston registered only their second win of the campaign and moved up a place to 21st in the table. Tom Cleverley's Watford stay eighth.
Di'Shon Bernard starred in a resolute defence as Sheffield Wednesday defied heavy Bristol City pressure to earn a battling 0-0 draw.
The centre-back was outstanding in a game of few clear chances, which ended in frustration for Liam Manning's Robins and relief for the massed ranks of travelling Wednesday fans.
City had the better of the exchanges for much of the match, but failed to turn their possession into enough clear opportunities against Danny Rohl's well-organised team.
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