The Blues manager stunned the Fratton supporters on Tuesday night at Abbey Stadium by benching Joe Rafferty and the in-form Jack Sparkes.
Instead, right-back Zak Swanson received his first league start in five weeks, and fit-again Connor Ogilvie made his first appearance in seven games.
Additionally, Mousinho gave an explanation of his thinking behind the selections.
“The best way to explain is that I have four full-backs competing for places and all are really at it, so we’re taking each game as it comes,” Pompey’s head coach said to The News.
We thought Connor would be better at Cambridge if he played on the left and attempted to neutralize James Brophy, their biggest danger. Fair play to Sparkesie; he did it when he first appeared, and we do anticipate it of him.
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.
“Zak did really well and we had some really good play down that right-hand side,” Mousinho continued.
Although he did pull the trigger in the second half and got into some pretty favorable positions, his shooting wasn’t quite up to par.
Although Zak may not be known for his shooting, he is a very, very strong player technically and I am confident that he can score goals when given the opportunity.
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