Portsmouth boss reveals thinking behind south-coast derby selection calls and substitutions
John Mousinho has explained the thinking behind his south-coast derby selection calls.
And the Pompey boss has detailed the considerations behind his in-game decisions, as his side fell to defeat to 10-man Southampton.
Mousinho made four changes for the south-coast derby, with the injured Conor Shaughnessy, Adrian Segečić, Rocco Shein and Daniel Bielica making way for Regan Poole, Colby Bishop, Ebou Adams and Nicolas Schmid.
He said: ‘The Shaughs one was enforced.
‘Ebou came into the game and I thought he did really well, but he decided to take him off because he was on a yellow and there's obviously that danger of him being sent off.
‘Nico came back in and I thought he was very good, he's been very good since he has been out of the side.
‘Segs has had a fairly tough few weeks in terms of travel.
‘He got back into the group quite late on, and we thought we would be able to create enough with that front four.
‘Colby was a decision where we wanted to change the front four.’
Pompey fans are now conducting their inquest into how their side came away from the game empty-handed, with Ryan Kavuma-McQueen’s half-time withdrawal under the spotlight.
Mousinho then shuffled his pack after 65 minutes with a triple change as Terry Devlin, Odin Bailey and Marezi were introduced for Jayden Meghoma, Ebou Adams and Bishop.
When asked about the Kavuma-McQueen call, Mousinho said: ‘It was just tactical.
‘It was a difficult one, but Ryan has come back into the group after three or four games away with England.
‘He’s been playing well for us, so there's no issue whatsoever.
‘It was just about getting Segs on the pitch with space opening up on the edge of the box a bit more. It was just that.
‘With the triple change around 60 minutes we wanted to keep the same shape, because we felt we were hurting their back line in the right-hand side really well.
‘So it was just bringing on different personnel and there should’ve been goals in the front five we finished the game with - Abu, Segs Keshi, Marko and Tyrese - with firepower in behind as well.’