Adrian Segecic delivered a memorable performance for Portsmouth, securing his first ever EFL hat‑trick as the south coast side edged Stoke City 3-1 at the Bet365 Stadium in a SkyBet Championship fixture. The Australian‑born Croatian striker opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, and after Lamine Cisse levelled the match shortly after the break, Segecic completed his personal treble with a composed left‑footed strike from about 20 yards out, sealing the win with eight minutes remaining. The victory was historic for Pompey, marking their inaugural triumph at Stoke's home ground.
The last time Portsmouth had managed an away win in Stoke was back in February 1995, when they played at the former Victoria Ground. That long‑standing drought was finally broken, providing a much‑needed morale boost for a team that had already secured its place in the Championship for another season.
Stoke, who had been hovering near the top of the table earlier in the campaign, were forced to endure their eighth consecutive finish in the lower half of the division since their relegation from the Premier League in 2018. The defeat underscored the club's ongoing struggles and highlighted the gap that still exists between their aspirations and on‑field results.
Portsmouth entered the match with no relegation worries after confirming their survival in a 5-1 loss to Coventry City, a game that also handed the league title to Frank Lampard's side. Manager John Mousinho made five changes to his lineup, including the introduction of Austrian goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid. However, within three minutes of kickoff, understudy keeper Josef Bursik, who had not started since an FA Cup loss to Arsenal in January, was forced off with an injury. Ben Killip came on as his replacement, marking his first appearance since the September clash with Sheffield Wednesday.
Around three thousand Pompey supporters were in attendance, celebrating the club's recent escape from relegation despite a relatively subdued atmosphere. The first half saw Segecic receive a perfectly timed through ball from Harvey Blair, allowing him to control the pass and unleash a rising left‑footed shot that sailed past Stoke goalkeeper Tommy Simkin, giving him his eighth goal of the season. Stoke responded before the interval, with Lamine Cisse finding the back post from a Sorba Thomas cross, only to be denied by Killip.
A subsequent scramble in the six‑yard box saw loanee Ash Phillips and Cisse fail to convert, and the home side went into the break trailing 1-0, prompting a chorus of boos from their fans. The second half began with Stoke equalising in the 48th minute when Cisse headed home a corner delivered by Thomas, who had been voted player of the season.
Segecic nearly restored Portsmouth's lead six minutes later, but his header struck the side netting. Four minutes after that, he finally broke the deadlock: a cross from Josh Murphy on the right was partially missed by Colby Bishop, and Segecic timed his run perfectly, beating Ben Gibson and tapping the ball home from three yards out. Jordan Williams of Portsmouth came close to extending the lead to 3-1, but his effort drifted just wide of Simkin's right‑hand post. Nevertheless, Segecic, only 21 years old, completed his hat‑trick shortly thereafter, capping off a standout individual display that also marked his fourth goal in two games.
In the post‑match interview, Segecic spoke candidly about the club's culture and the need for a fundamental shift. He described the current environment as "poor" and "abject," emphasizing that the team had not been good enough to win enough games. He called for a summer of hard work, ruthless standards, and a change in attitude, insisting that mediocrity would no longer be tolerated. Segecic warned that players who were not willing to fight, train hard, and give their all would be moved on, and he stressed the importance of recruiting individuals with a fighting spirit who could endure any conditions, be it rain, snow, or shine.
Manager John Mousinho also addressed his future with Portsmouth, expressing his complete focus on the club and his love for the city. He highlighted the opportunity to build momentum if the right decisions are made and confirmed that he has a contract extending for a couple more years, with no interest from other clubs. Beyond the match, the article noted a promotional offer: a £250,000 prize available through the Super 6 competition, free to enter until 3 pm on Saturday.
The piece also referenced the Sky Sports app and the option to watch EFL on Sky with NOW, providing fans with additional ways to engage with the league. Overall, Segecic's hat‑trick not only secured a vital three points for Portsmouth but also symbolised a turning point for a club eager to shake off years of underperformance. His decisive goals, combined with the managerial resolve expressed by Mousinho, suggest a renewed ambition at Fratton Park as the team looks forward to building on this victory and striving for higher league positions in the upcoming season.