‘I’ve been belted for them’: Portsmouth Championship survival hero on stepping up with pressure on
Three assists from the Sydney FC signing saw him deliver for Pompey at a big moment in their Championship campaign.
Adrian Segecic spoke of his conviction his talent would ‘shine through’ after taking centre stage in securing Pompey’s Championship survival.
And the Aussie underlined his delight at stepping up with the pressure on to deliver the supply which is keeping the Blues in the second tier this term.
Segecic: ‘Look, I’ve been belted for some of my corners but I’m still young’
Segecic emerged as a key figure in helping John Mousinho’s men to survival, producing a trio of critical assists to return nine points in three games.
The 21-year-old’s efforts came in the 97th minute for Conor Chaplin’s winner at Middlesbrough, before two outstanding corner deliveries resulted in goals for Conor Shaughnessy and Ibane Bowat in the wins over Ipswich Town and Leicester City.
Pompey’s attacking set-pieces have faced criticism this season, with Segecic under the spotlight at times for his balls into the box from corners. The Sydney FC arrival stood up when it counted, however, and took satisfaction from doing so when the heat was on.
Segecic said: ‘It’s a massive part of the game. Set-pieces are a massive part of things, especially at the back end of the season when goals don’t come too easily.
‘There’s set-pieces which are critical moments, both when you’re defending and attacking.
‘So for me to get three assists from three set-pieces, I definitely think that’s massive. It’s a contribution to the team when they needed it most.
‘Look, I’ve been belted for some of my corners before, but I’m still young.
Segecic: ‘Good to have parts when you can learn and reflect’
‘I’m 21, but I’m going to keep taking them. The assists are what you get when you keep believing in yourself, keep working hard and don’t listen to any negativity. When you do that you will always shine through.
‘It’s not easy, especially when you’re under pressure in massive moments and it’s really needed for the boys.
‘Set-pieces have become so important for us. So I keep believing in myself and say I will keep taking them to get your rewards.’
After setting a frenetic pace at the start of the season with two goals in his first three appearances and a string of impressive performances, Segecic has faced his battles when it’s come to fluctuations in form.
The Croatia under-21 international’s had limited playing time over the past couple of months, with a run of nine outings on the bench from 11 games.
A start came in the win over Ipswich last week, however, with Segecic then introduced early against Leicester City before a full appearance at Coventry on Tuesday night.
He added: ‘It’s been a massive first season for me.
‘It’s actually been good to have parts when you can learn and reflect.
‘I’ve come here at such a young age and come in and out of the team.
‘There’s been a lot of important games and a lot of pressure games. So, I feel to come here and battle relegation at 21 in such pressure games is big.
‘So to come here and step up in big moments, I feel it’s been a massive season personally to learn and get that experience.’