Portsmouth hat-trick hero Adrian Segecic said the weekend win at Stoke City was a "massive step in the right direction" for the south coast club.
The 3-1 victory was Pompey’s fourth in five matches in a run that has taken them up to 18th and secured a third season in the Championship.
"It was a massive step in the right direction, and a positive way to end the season," he told BBC Radio Solent. "It was the performance we knew we had in us.
"It was a massive win for us. People will say there was no pressure, but no matter what football match you play, it's impossible to say you don't go out there and give 100%.
"Maybe at times this season it was in and out, and it's just about finding the consistency with those performances now. The boys have felt really confident about the way we are now playing".
Pompey's second season back in the second tier has once again been a battle with relegation before finally securing their safety with two games to spare.
Segecic's weekend hat-trick was just the second of his career, and he thanked the fans for their role in the club's survival.
"They've been massive for us the whole season," he said. "When we were down in the dumps and needed someone, they always stepped up and were always there for us.
"They've loved me from the first game I came here, and they’ve been behind me all season. They deserved the Stoke performance, and look how they sung all game for us”.
Portsmouth's campaign has been hampered by injuries to key players, including winger Josh Murphy.
The fit-again 31-year-old supplied the delivery for Segecic's second goal at Stoke, in only his 15th appearance of the season.
"We missed Murph [for] a lot of the season," Segecic said. "We know how vital he was last season for us. It's certainly good to have him back. He boosts the boys a lot, he's such a good character to have around."
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