Why 'class act' Evans got the nod over Derby goal hero
Owen Moxon proved to be Pompey’s super sub and John Mousinho has explained why the midfielder was left out against Derby.
The Blues opted to hand Lee Evans his full debut in the top-of-the-table clash at a wet Fratton Park on Tuesday, with Moxon dropping to the bench as a consequence.
The former Ipswich and Wolves man turned in an impressive performance and was afterwards described as a ‘class act’ by Pompey’s head coach.
Yet it was Moxon who had the decisive contribution, with his sensational 77thminute strike securing a point against the Rams in the 2-2 draw.
Mousinho told The News: ‘Owen wasn’t dropped. I am not one for using these strange phrases that some modern head coaches use, so I suppose you could say he was dropped or whatever, but we just thought it was a good game for Lee to come into.
‘He really deserved a start following his performance on Friday. He used the ball really well and 55-60 was all we had planned for Lee considering he hadn’t started for six months.
‘I’m really happy with Lee’s progress, it’s another massive step in the right direction for us. He did really well, you have to take into consideration he’s been out for so long and gave us a lot of experience in the middle.
‘You probably don’t see a lot of it in terms of him always being available, he gave us a lot of control and kept his position well.
‘Lee is a class act, he keeps the ball really well, moves it nicely, is always in the right position and, a lot of the time, that’s the most important thing for our sixes.
‘Owen is a very different player, he probably brings a bit more at the top end of the pitch and it’s great to have that contrast.’
With Moxon introduced in the 59th minute for
Evans, he proceeded to net his first Pompey goal in 11 appearances.
And with nine goals in his previous 18 months at Carlisle, Mousinho is well aware that scoring touch is within the 26-year-old's game.
He added: ‘Sometimes, with teams sitting deep, you need those players to come in and score.
‘Last year we watched Owen consistently score goals for Carlisle from the edge of the box, he’s a good striker and a really good setpiece taker, we just haven’t quite seen it yet at Pompey.
‘It’s there, he’s got a good strike and he’ll keep scoring goals. He gets them in training, the only frustration we haven't seen more in games.’
*Mousinho believes Derby were ‘pretty happy’ with a Fratton Park point as
Pompey came from behind twice.
In the first versus second televised clash, Joe Ward put the Rams in front on two occasions in the opening 35 minutes.
However, the hosts struck back, initially through Abu Kamara and then through Moxon’s stunning 25-yard strike.
Pompey’s head coach insists his side were the more threatening at 2-2 as they chased victory.
Mousinho remarked: ‘There were a lot of ebbs and flows in the game, going behind twice obviously made it difficult for us, but we managed to get back in the match.
‘We were definitely the most threatening side at 2-2 and in the second half we completely controlled the game and dominated it, but didn’t create quite enough chances to win, which was the only disappointment.
‘I think Derby are pretty happy with a point, you can probably tell by the way they sat. There’s nothing wrong with that, that’s absolutely fair when you come to Fratton Park, but we wanted to win the game.
‘You could see that with the substitutions we made and the way we still attacked the game.
‘At 2-2 we still had that front line on the pitch and were slightly wary of being too open.
‘I’m satisfied with a point in the circumstances of the game, but we wanted to win, you can tell by the way we set up.
‘I will be very satisfied with that point if it turns out to be a crucial point at the back end of the season.
‘Derby didn't make it easy, they are very, very well set-up and were difficult to break down.’
Mousinho admitted the conditions impacted Pompey’s approach, with driving rain and a swirling wind throughout.
And he feared the encounter could be abandoned at one point.
He added: ‘The conditions were really tough, the rain and wind didn't make it easy. We had to probably take away some of the risk with the ball into our two number sixes.
‘There were puddles in the middle of the park, I was actually worried the game might be called off because the ball wasn’t rolling particularly well.’