Adrian Segecic marked his first ever EFL hat‑trick by guiding Portsmouth to a 3-1 victory over Stoke City in the SkyBet Championship, securing the club's inaugural win at the Bet365 Stadium. The 21‑year‑old Australian‑born Croatian opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, and after Lamine Cisse restored parity early in the second half, Segecic struck twice more to complete his personal milestone.
The opening goal came when Segecic latched onto a precise through‑ball from Harvey Blair, took a touch to settle himself and unleashed a rising left‑footed shot that flew past Stoke keeper Tommy Simkin, giving Pompey a deserved lead. Stoke responded before the break when Cisse met a Sorba Thomas cross, but his effort was blocked by Portsmouth defender Ben Killip, and the ball rebounded harmlessly. After the interval, Cisse headed home an in‑swinging corner from Thomas, equalising for the visitors and momentarily silencing the home crowd.
Segecic, however, was not to be denied. He missed a chance at the 62‑minute mark, heading the ball onto the post, but four minutes later he pounced on a Josh Murphy cross, slipped past Ben Gibson and slotted the ball home from three yards out, restoring Portsmouth's advantage.
A subsequent effort from full‑back Jordan Williams brushed the post, but the score remained 2-1. Segecic sealed the win in the 78th minute with a composed 20‑yard left‑footed strike that left Simkin stranded, finalising a personal hat‑trick and cementing a memorable individual performance. The win marked Portsmouth's first away triumph at Stoke since February 1995, when the club played at the old Victoria Ground, and it also ensured that Stoke, who had briefly sat second in the table earlier in the season, would endure an eighth consecutive finish in the bottom half since their 2018 relegation from the Premier League. The match came after Portsmouth had already secured their Championship status, following a 5-1 defeat at Coventry that handed the title to Frank Lampard's side.
Manager John Mousinho made five changes to his lineup, introducing Austrian goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid. Early in the game, understudy keeper Josef Bursik, who had not started since an FA Cup loss to Arsenal in January, was forced off with an injury, prompting Ben Killip to make his first appearance since a September outing against Sheffield Wednesday. Around 3,000 Pompey supporters, buoyed by the recent survival, filled the stadium and celebrated despite the relatively modest spectacle. The crowd witnessed Segecic's rise from his days at Sydney FC and his earlier stint with the A‑League, where he earned a reputation as a prolific forward, now translating that form to English football.
Beyond the on‑field drama, the post‑match comments highlighted the club's broader challenges. Segecic expressed frustration with the team's culture, describing the season as "abject" and calling for a radical shift in attitude and work ethic. He urged the recruitment of players willing to "fight and scrap" every week, regardless of weather, and warned that mercenary attitudes would not be tolerated. His candid remarks underscored a desire for a more disciplined, ambitious environment at Fratton Park.
Mousinho, for his part, reaffirmed his commitment to Portsmouth, stating, "My full focus is on Portsmouth. I love being here and love the city. We have an opportunity if we get things right to start kicking on." He noted that no other club had approached him and that his contract secures his stay for another couple of years, suggesting stability at the managerial helm.
The match also featured a promotional note about the Super 6 competition, offering a £250,000 prize pool with free entry until 3 pm on Saturday, illustrating the commercial side of modern football. Overall, the game provided a blend of individual brilliance, historic significance, and a glimpse into the strategic overhaul the club hopes to undertake.
Segecic's hat‑trick will be remembered not only for its immediate impact on the scoreline but also as a catalyst for the cultural change he and Mousinho both advocate, aiming to propel Portsmouth beyond mere survival toward genuine contention in the Championship.