'Not dropped, not rested': Portsmouth boss explains reasoning behind shock team selection

The Blues boss shocked the Fratton faithful by dropping in-form Jack Sparkes and Joe Rafferty to the bench at the Abbey Stadium on Tuesday night.

Instead fit-again Connor Ogilvie was handed his first outing in seven matches and right-back Zak Swanson a maiden league start in five weeks.

The outcome was a goalless draw, with Ogilvie forced off after eight minutes with a worrying ankle injury.

And Mousinho has explained his reasoning behind the selection choices.

Pompey’s head coach told The News: ‘The best way to explain is the fact I have four full-backs competing for places and all are really at it, so we’re taking each game as it comes.

‘We felt it was more suited at Cambridge for Connor to play on the left and maybe try to nullify their main threat, which was James Brophy. To be fair to Sparkesie, when he came on he did that, and we do expect it of him.

‘Then, in terms of the way we wanted to attack, we thought it really suited Zak and he was excellent, he contributed a lot to our attacking performance. So it seemed to work.

‘I’m sure many will agree, we have four excellent full-backs competing for those spots and it’s never an easy decision. Players suit certain games and that’s the way we look to work it going forward.

‘Joe and Jack didn't lose their places in the side due to performance, their performances have been excellent.

‘Jack with the amount of assists, Joe is right up there with four as well with his crossing and getting in on the back post. I said to them on Monday, you haven’t been dropped, this is the state of the game and the way we want to do it.

‘Part of it is it’s great to have fresh legs coming in, but since Joe’s been back in the side, barring that Barnsley game when he looked tired towards the end, he has been excellent physically and really come into matches towards the back end of it, in 80-85th minute he’s still running.

‘It’s nice to be able to freshen it up, particularly when you go on the road, but that wasn’t part of it. The message was “You are not being dropped, you are not being rested. I’m just changing it”.’

Swanson came close to capping his return to the side with a goal in the 50th minute, only to shoot straight at keeper Jack Stevens.

It proved to be one of just two on-target attempts from the visitors during the entire Cambridge fixture.

Mousinho added: ‘Zak did really well and we had some really good play down that right-hand side.

‘He got into some really good positions and did pull the trigger in the second half, but his shooting wasn’t quite there.

‘Maybe Zak is not renowned for his shooting, but he’s technically a very, very good player and I know is able to put the ball into the back of the net when he can.’