Adrian Segecic delivered a landmark performance for Portsmouth, netting his first ever EFL hat‑trick as the south‑coast side secured a 3‑1 victory over Stoke City at the Bet365 Stadium in the SkyBet Championship. The 21‑year‑old Australian‑born Croatian opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, then added a second after Lamine Cisse’s equaliser early in the second half, and capped the night with a decisive left‑footed strike from about 20 yards out eight minutes from the final whistle. The win was historic for Pompey, marking their inaugural triumph at Stoke’s home ground since the club’s relocation from the old Victoria Ground in February 1995.
It also represented a symbolic reversal of fortunes for a Stoke side that had been perched near the top of the table earlier in the campaign but now faced an eighth consecutive season finishing in the lower half of the league, a streak that began after their relegation from the Premier League in 2018. Portsmouth entered the match with their relegation battle already settled, having secured survival in the Championship the previous week with a 5‑1 defeat of Coventry City that clinched the division title for Frank Lampard’s side. Manager John Mousinho made five changes to his lineup for the final away fixture of the season, including the introduction of Austrian goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid.
However, Schmid’s cameo was brief; within three minutes he was forced off with an injury, prompting the return of understudy Josef Bursik, who was making his first start since an FA Cup loss to Arsenal in January of the previous year. Bursik was later substituted for Ben Killip, who made his first appearance since keeping a clean sheet against Sheffield Wednesday last September. Around three thousand Pompey supporters, buoyed by the recent survival celebrations, filled the stands and created a lively atmosphere despite the relatively modest attendance.
The first half saw Segecic seize the initiative in the 13th minute after receiving a perfectly timed through‑ball from Harvey Blair. The former Sydney FC star, who had previously made a name for himself in the Australian A‑League, took a calm touch before unleashing a rising left‑footed shot that sailed past Stoke keeper Tommy Simkin, giving Portsmouth a 1‑0 lead and marking Segecic’s eighth goal of the season. Stoke responded before the break, with Lamine Cisse finding the back of the net from a Sorba Thomas cross that was initially blocked by Killip.
The ball ricocheted around the six‑yard box, and despite attempts from Spurs loanee Ash Phillips and Cisse himself, the effort failed to cross the line. The home side’s frustration was evident as the crowd’s boos at halftime turned into cheers after the restart when Cisse headed in an in‑swinging corner delivered by Thomas, restoring parity at 1‑1.
Portsmouth pressed for the lead again, and Segecic came close in the 62nd minute, only to see his header bounce off the side netting. Four minutes later, his persistence paid off. A cross from Josh Murphy on the right wing was partially missed by Colby Bishop, but Segecic anticipated the ball, out‑maneuvered defender Ben Gibson, and slotted the rebound home from three yards out, putting Pompey back in front at 2‑1. Full‑back Jordan Williams almost added a third for Stoke, striking a shot that narrowly missed the upright on the goalkeeper’s right hand side.
Yet Segecic completed his personal hat‑trick shortly thereafter, striking a powerful left‑footed effort from the edge of the box that left Simkin with no chance. The goal not only sealed the win but also marked Segecic’s fourth goal in his last two games, underscoring his emerging importance to the team. In the post‑match interview, Segecic expressed his frustration with the club’s recent performances, stating, "The culture needs to change. It is not right.
You find out a lot about people in bad times and we were poor, really poor. We have not been good enough to win enough games this season. This one was abject. Things need to change.
We know exactly what is required. It is a summer of hard work. We have got to be ruthless. There are so many things I see that are okay and so many things that aren't.
And I am being polite when I say okay. Okay is not what we are aiming for. We are aiming for the best but we are so far off it. It is inexplicable that someone puts a shirt on and isn't going to run through a brick wall.
We have to recruit the right players and move people on who are mercenary, don't want to work, don't want to train hard and then put a team on the pitch everyone can be proud of. I can't tell you how angry I am. There is so much needs doing to change things around.
You can't have the tail wagging the dog. If they are not willing to fight and scrap they will have to leave. We must get players in who are willing to fight and run and do it every single week through rain, snow and shine." Manager John Mousinho, speaking about his own future, affirmed his commitment to the club: "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. I have had absolutely nothing from any other football club up and down the country.
I have got another couple of years here in terms of my contract." His remarks highlighted both the optimism surrounding the club’s recent survival and the urgency of building a squad capable of competing for promotion. The victory also had financial implications for fans, as the £250,000 prize pool for the Super 6 competition remained up for grabs, with entries closing at 3 pm on Saturday.
Overall, Segecic’s hat‑trick not only provided a memorable night for Portsmouth supporters but also signaled a potential turning point for a club eager to reshape its culture, strengthen its roster, and aim for higher ambitions in the coming seasons.