Tom Cannon's four-goal blast fired Stoke's 6-1 rout of Portsmouth as new boss Narcis Pelach savoured his first Championship win on Wednesday.
On-loan Leicester striker Cannon had not scored in the league since netting for his parent club on New Year's Day.
But he ended that drought with his first two goals for Stoke, while Sam Gallagher also opened his account for the club before half-time.
Stoke scored five times in a frenzied 10-minute spell either side of the break, with Cannon adding two more, including a contentious 48th-minute penalty.
The Potters, who hired Pelach to replace the sacked Steven Schumacher in September, had only scored four goals in their previous seven Championship games.
But Brighton loanee Andrew Moran got in the act with Stoke's sixth goal to seal the demolition.
Mark O'Mahoney had equalised for John Mousinho's side after 29 minutes.
But promoted Portsmouth's defeat set an unwanted post-war record of eight league games without a win at the start of a new campaign.
Troubled Milutin Osmajic scored twice as Preston moved out of the relegation zone with a 3-0 win over Watford at Deepdale.
Osmajic was charged by the Football Association with biting Blackburn defender Owen Beck during a goalless draw in September.
The 25-year-old Montenegro forward responded to being brought into the starting line-up by putting the hosts ahead eight minutes after the break and added his second in the 65th minute.
A superb Ali McCann strike 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.
Sheffield United extended their unbeaten start to the league season, climbing to third place with a 1-0 win against Swansea at Bramall Lane.
Swansea defender Josh Tymon scored a first-half own goal as the Blades secured their fifth league win since last season's relegation from the Premier League.
Bristol City and Sheffield Wednesday shared a goalless draw at Ashton Gate.