Portsmouth’s Adrian Segecic handed Championship boost after Millwall blow and Sheff United withdrawal
The Pompey favourite was denied his fourth Championship goal of the season against Millwall - but now the league’s dubious goals panel has convened.
Adrian Segecic has been handed a Championship pick-me-up after being credited with Pompey’s second goal against Millwall last weekend.
The Blues’ top scorer has officially taken his league return to four efforts, despite initially not being awarded the effort six minutes after the restart in Saturday’s 3-1 success at Fratton Park.
Championship dubious goals panel makes Segecic call
The goal was officially registered as an own goal from Lions defender Tristan Crama, as the Aussie’s angled drive took a deflection off the Frenchman and looped over keeper Max Crocombe and into the back of the net.
Data experts Opta handle league information and are responsible for attributing goals. They made the decision to not give the goal to Segecic, but replays showed the 21-year-old’s shot was on target.
That means the correct decision was the summer signing from Sydney FC should’ve been given his fourth goal of the campaign, an outcome most in the press box, including The News, felt was the right one.
The Championship’s dubious goals panel has now met to discuss the incident and have agreed with that position, meaning Segecic has been officially awarded the finish.
Records have been updated to reflect that fact, with Segecic ahead of Terry Devlin and Min-hyeok Yang in the goal charts - who both have two finishes apiece. As a result, it means Josh Murphy is also officially given his fourth assist of the season.
Pompey boss John Mousinho was pleased his attacker was given the finish he deserved, especially after being sacrificed at the break against Sheffield United for Jordan Williams with his side down to 10 men.
Mousinho on Segecic: He deserves his goal
Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent: ‘Segs was bright last night (against Sheffield United) and really bright Saturday. He deserves his goal and we want him to keep pushing on, I want a goalscorer like that who is hungry for goals and quickly wants to get into double figures.’
Segecic will be hopeful of building on some decent form since making his return to the Pompey fray after just over a month out with an ankle injury.
The attacker was forced off 10 minutes after his 64th-minute introduction against Coventry after injuring himself in a tackle. The player was visibly distraught with fears he faced an extended spell on the sidelines, as he left Fratton Park in a protective boot.
A scan revealed the issue was better than many felt it would be, with one of the bright sparks of Pompey’s season able to return at a high level as he came back into the fray last weekend.