Former Portsmouth ace backs boss' ruthless decision to substitute defender during half-time at Bristol City

And the former Pompey midfielder believed it was the right call – even though the Blues went on to lose their FA Cup third-round tie at Bristol City 2-1.

The visitors went into the break all-square, after Callum Johnson cancelled out Famara Diedhiou’s 20th-minute opener.

Yet they re-emerged for the second half minus the on-loan Dane, who was taken off and replaced by Jack Whatmough.

A 32nd-minute booking for a scything foul on Antoine Semenyo, plus a couple of other fouls, meant Nicolaisen was walking a disciplinary tight-rope for the rest of the game.

Pompey, of course, conceded a decisive second goal seven minutes from time, when Chris Martin fired home at the second attempt from the edge of the box.

SEE ALSO: Boss delivers major update on FC Midtjylland loanee Nicolaisen's future

But McLoughlin believed the Blues ran the risk of finishing the game with 10 men and and picking up an unnecessary booking if they continued with the FC Midtjylland loanee beyond the interval.

And he backed the manager’s half-time actions, which replicated a move made at Plymouth in November when the Dane failed to impress.

Speaking on BBC Radio Solent after the defeat at Ashton Gate, Macca said: ‘I think he (Nicolaisen) will be a little bit concerned by the fact that he’s got booked and he’s been taken off again.

‘He made one or two strange decisions within the game. He wasn’t that bad but it’s obviously pretty clear that the manager doesn’t trust him enough that he’s not going to get the second booking and then be sent off.

‘He was very quick to bring on Jack Whatmough at half-time and it was the right thing to do.

‘A lot of managers and maybe inexperienced managers try to keep onside with people and don’t want to rock the boat with players.

‘They might take the option: “Oh, maybe I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, I don’t want to ruin his confidence, I’ll keep him on the pitch”.

‘But no, ruthless (from Jackett), get the job done, work the percentages out and the chances are that he’ll probably get booked again.

‘(There’s a) lack of experience really at this sort of level, although he (Nicolaisen) might argue he’s not.

‘But he is in terms of the quality you’re facing week in, week out.’

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