Adrian Segecic delivered a landmark performance for Portsmouth, securing his first ever EFL hat‑trick as the south coast side overcame Stoke City 3‑1 at the Bet365 Stadium. The 21‑year‑old Australian‑born Croatian striker opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, and after a brief equaliser from Lamine Cissé, he completed his treble with a composed left‑footed finish from about 20 yards out, sealing the win with eight minutes remaining. The victory was historic for several reasons.
It marked Portsmouth's inaugural win at Stoke's home ground, a feat not achieved since the club last visited the former Victoria Ground in February 1995. Moreover, the result ensured that Stoke, who had briefly occupied second place earlier in the campaign, suffered yet another bottom‑half finish – their eighth consecutive since the club’s relegation from the Premier League in 2018.
Portsmouth entered the match free from any relegation anxiety, having already secured their place in the Championship for another season. Their previous game had ended in a 5‑1 defeat to Coventry City, a result that handed Frank Lampard’s side the league title. Manager John Mousinho made five changes to his lineup for the final away fixture, including the introduction of Austrian goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid. However, the early part of the game saw a further shake‑up when understudy keeper Josef Bursik, who was starting for the first time since an FA Cup loss to Arsenal in January, was forced off with an injury after just three minutes.
Ben Killip came on as his replacement, making his first appearance since the September clash with Sheffield Wednesday. Approximately 3,000 Pompey supporters were in attendance, celebrating the club’s recent survival in the Championship despite a relatively subdued atmosphere. The first half saw Segecic exploit a perfectly timed through‑ball from Harvey Blair. The former Sydney FC forward collected the pass, took a touch, and unleashed a rising left‑footed strike that sailed past Stoke goalkeeper Tommy Simkin, giving Portsmouth a 1‑0 lead and marking Segecic’s eighth goal of the season.
Stoke responded before the break when Lamine Cissé found the back post with a cross from Sorba Thomas, only to see his effort blocked by Killip. A subsequent scramble in the six‑yard box saw loanee Ash Phillips and Cissé unable to convert, and the visitors went into the dressing room trailing 1‑0, a scoreline that drew jeers from the home crowd.
The second half began with a swift turnaround for Stoke. Just three minutes after the restart, Cissé headed home an in‑swinging corner delivered by Thomas, leveling the match at 1‑1.
Portsmouth pressed for the lead, and Segecic came close in the 62nd minute, heading the ball onto the crossbar. Four minutes later, his persistence paid off. After a cross from Josh Murphy on the Stoke right, Segecic out‑muscled defender Ben Gibson, sliding the ball home from three yards out to restore Portsmouth’s advantage.
Full‑back Jordan Williams nearly added a third for the home side, but his effort drifted just wide of the right‑hand post. Segecic, however, completed his personal hat‑trick shortly thereafter, striking a third goal that capped a memorable individual display and represented his fourth goal across two consecutive games. In the post‑match interview, Segecic reflected on the broader challenges facing the club. He emphasized the need for a cultural shift, noting that the team had been "poor, really poor" and that the season’s performances had been "abject." He called for a ruthless approach, highlighting the importance of recruiting players with a strong work ethic and removing those he described as "mercenary" or unwilling to train hard.
Segecic’s passionate remarks underscored his frustration and his belief that only a concerted effort – rain, snow, or shine – could elevate Portsmouth to a level the supporters deserve. Manager John Mousinho also spoke about his commitment to the club. He expressed love for Portsmouth and the city, stressing that his full focus remained on the team. Mousinho noted that he had not received any overtures from other clubs and that he has a couple of years left on his contract, indicating a desire to continue building on the progress made.
The match also featured a few peripheral details that added colour to the evening. The Sky Sports app was promoted for fans wishing to follow the action, and a reminder about the free-to‑play Super 6 competition, with a £250,000 prize pool, was included in the coverage.
Overall, the game provided a fitting climax to Portsmouth’s season, delivering a rare away win, a personal milestone for Segecic, and a hopeful glimpse of what could be achieved if the club embraces the hard‑working mentality he so fervently advocated.