I couldn't keep count, says Harry as Coppell is shocked by Premier goal blitz

Portsmouth and Reading clashed in chaotic style and the result was possibly the craziest scoreline in Premier League history.

Portsmouth fully deserved their win, as their attacking football at times was irresistible. But many of the eight goals in a breathless second half were the stuff of the primary school playground.

When the dust settles on this result and both sides have managed to regain their bearings, they can reflect on a catalogue of simple errors.

At least Portsmouth can wallow in the memory of their attacking flair, and are dreaming of Europe again after a spectacular attacking display from their men of Africa.

Benjani Mwaruwari of Zimbabwe led the way with a spectacular hat-trick that broke Reading's spirited resistance.

But he was ably supported by Ghana's Sulley Muntari, John Utaka of Nigeria and Senegalese powerhouse Papa Bouba Diop. The African quartet's pace, invention and movement were too much for Reading, who showed great fight to get back on level terms after falling 2-0 behind, but ultimately they could not cope with Portsmouth's heady mix of attacking talent.

This fixture had looked a home banker all the way. Harry Redknapp's cosmopolitan team went into the game unbeaten at Fratton Park in the League, while Steve Coppell's Reading arrived on the south coast in search of their first away win.

When Reading were caught on the break in the seventh minute, they looked to be heading for a hiding. However, no one could have predicted the scoreline that was to follow. Redknapp admitted at times it was hard to keep tabs on the score.

"All you are bothered about is making sure you are still three goals up," he said. "In all honesty, we were fantastic and should have been three or four goals up at half-time."

Reading boss Steve Coppell was shell-shocked. "I can't remember a game, as a player or manager, like that," he said. "Portsmouth have some real match-winners but we made it too easy for them."

The opener was a fine example of the potential of their attack. Muntari won the ball with a bruising challenge in midfield and found Utaka on the left. The Nigerian picked out Benjani unmarked at the right post and the striker applied the finishing touch.

The home side were in full flow, and would have increased their lead had Muntari or Niko Kranjcar managed to hit the target when well placed.

This was the Benjani show, however. Leading the line in place of the injured Kanu, who had painkilling injections for knee and thigh problems last week, the Zimbabwean scored a wonderful second, brushing aside the halfhearted challenge of Ivar Ingimarsson before unleashing a sizzling shot for the pick of the 11 goals on show.

Reading somehow forced their way back just before the break. Liam Rosenior's effort from Kevin Doyle's cross hit the bar before bouncing down on to the line. But with the linesman already flagging that the ball had crossed the line, Dave Kitson's shot was blocked by David James and Stephen Hunt followed up to make sure with a header.

Minutes into the second half, James had one of his moments of madness when he rushed out to Nicky Shorey's hopeful ball. Kitson got there first and threaded a wonderful shot from out on the touchline.

James then made amends when he pulled off a flying save to deny Shorey's penalty after Diop had been harshly judged to have handled.

Hermann Hreidarsson put Pompey back in front when he scored from Sylvain Distin's cross and then Benjani completed his hat-trick with a solo goal that put the home side 4-2 up.

Kranjcar headed home from a Sean Davis cross, before Shane Long pulled one back for Reading.

Davis unleashed a screamer from fully 30 yards that deflected in off Ingimarsson for Pompey's sixth. In stoppage time, Muntari made it seven with a penalty after Kranjcar was tripped.

The chants of "We want eight" have not often been heard at Fratton Park. It was Reading, however, who had the last word, as Shorey's shot was deflected in to make it the highest scoring game in Premier League history.

PORTSMOUTH (4-3-3): James; Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson; Diop, Davis, Muntari; Utaka, Benjani (Nugent 80min), Kranjcar. Subs (not used): Ashdown, Taylor, Pamarot, Mendes. Booked: Taylor.

READING (4-4-2): Hahnemann; Murty (Long 77), Ingimarsson, Duberry, Shorey; Rosenior, Gunnarsson (Fae 77), Harper, Hunt; Doyle, Kitson. Subs (not used): Federici, Lita, Bikey. Booked: Duberry.

Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).