Portsmouth manager John Mousinho says dropping goalkeeper Will Norris was a change he “needed to make” before their 1-1 draw with Oxford United.

Norris had previously started each of the Blues’ eight Championship matches but was left out of the squad entirely on Saturday.

Portsmouth had been thrashed 6-1 by Stoke City three days earlier, their heaviest defeat since losing 6-0 to Manchester City in 2008.

“It wasn’t an easy decision and Will’s been brilliant for us during his time here,” Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.

“I just felt it was a change that we needed to make – he spent every moment on the pitch last season and has done [so again] so far this year.

“We had a very quick turnaround from the game on Wednesday night and it was big news for him and disappointing news, [but] I thought it was the right thing to do to bring him out.”

Last season, Norris featured in all 46 of Portsmouth’s League One games, keeping 19 clean sheets in England’s third tier.

But, on Saturday, Pompey boss Mousinho opted for summer signing Nicolas Schmid between the posts for his first game in Portsmouth colours.

The Austrian made a smart stop in the first half to deny Oxford’s Idris El Mizouni, stretching out down to his left and tipping a curled effort behind for a corner with his fingertips.

Despite the Blues taking a second-half lead, they were unable to win and are still searching for their first victory of the campaign, drawing five and losing four so far.

Elias Sorensen had a first-half penalty saved to add to Pompey’s disappointment.

“When we’re in situations where we put teams on the back foot we need to be better,” Mousinho added.

“We need to make sure we take our chances from set-pieces or, as on Saturday, from penalties.

“If you’re not ruthless enough and you concede chances at the other end of the pitch then you’re going to come away not winning games.”