Popular Portsmouth forward Adrian Segečić dealt cruel blow following impressive return from injury against Millwall
Adrian Segečić made a welcome return to the Pompey first team against Millwall on Saturday
Adrian Segečić has been dealt a cruel blow following his starring role in Pompey’s 3-1 win over Millwall at Fratton Park.
The popular Aussie forward was back in the Blues’ starting XI after over a month out on the sidelines with an ankle injury sustained against Coventry City.
And the club’s top scorer would have been forgiven for thinking he had marked his welome return to the fold with a fourth goal of the season in the victory that saw John Mousinho’s side move seven points clear of the Championship relegation zone.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
Despite, like the rest of us, believing his cross-cum-shot in the 51st minute to put Pompey 2-0 up had simply caught out Millwall keeper Max Crocombe and looped into the back of the net from his accute position out wide, eagle-eyed spoil sports at the EFL spotted a slight deflection that changed the direction of the ball.
Indeed, they believe the slightest of touches off the out-stretched leg of Lions defender Tristan Crama diverted the ball goalwards - hence their decision to rule the effort as an own goal and credit Segečić with an assist only.
That will no doubt disappoint the 21-year-old who once again proved what a quality signing he has been since his summer move from Sydney FC, and who hadn’t been told the outcome when Mousinho was conducting his post-match media interviews.
The Blues boss admitted the Aussie will be upset that the goal has now been officially taken off him. However, maybe Mousinho’s praise for the player on his comeback will help each that disappointment.
When asked by BBC Solent whether Segečić was aware of the ruling, the Pompey head coach said: ‘No, I haven’t (told) Adrian Segečić.
‘I thought he had just shanked it and it gone in, but yeah, I think it took a deflection. He’ll be very disappointed.’
He added: ‘I thought Segs was really good, to be honest, and deserved his goal, sorry, assist.
‘He picked up some really good pockets in the first half and I thought he didn’t really look like he had been out for that long.’
Segečić’s appearance in the 3-1 win over Millwall was his 13th of the season for the Blues in all competitions. Withdrawn just after the hour mark to protect him following a spell on the sidelines, his assist is his second of the season - putting him just one behind Josh Murphy in the goals created category.
He remains the Blues’ top scorer with 3 - with Terry Devlin and Minyeok Yang one goal behind with two for the season so far.