It's all about priorities - former Luton boss Nathan Jones' advice to Portsmouth as faltering Blues chase honours on three fronts

The Blues suffered a 1-0 defeat at Fleetwood on Saturday as they dropped out of the play-off positions.

It was Kenny Jackett’s side’s second successive defeat on the road to a promotion rival, following a 1-0 loss at the hands of Coventry in their previous away trip.

And the latest setback comes just days after Pompey fielded a full-strength side in their Leasing.com Trophy semi-final against Exeter, who made 10 changes to their starting XI for the midweek at Fratton Park.

The Blues host Arsenal in the fifth-round of the FA Cup on Monday, March 2 – with two further home games against MK Dons (Tuesday) and Rochdale (Friday) to fit in before the visit of the Gunners.

It makes for a busy schedule for Jackett’s seventh-place side, who are guaranteed to play 60 games at least this term.

But Jones is of the opinion that juggling hopes in that many competitions, with the extra number of matches it brings, has consequences.

The out-of-work former Luton manager was asked about Pompey’s schedule in Saturday night’s EFL on Quest programme, with the PO4 outfit having already played 14 games since the turn of the year.

And he revealed he prioritised the Hatters’ league aspirations ahead of anything else – a tactic that led to two promotions for the now Championship outfit.

‘First year (in League Two) we got the play-off semis and the Checkatrade semis and I felt it hindered us really,’ said Jones, who left Kenilworth Road for Stoke halfway through last season’s League One title success.

‘So we hard to prioritise.

‘Our goal was to get to the Championship within a stated time so we had to prioritise.

‘And we did. Look, we had a good squad so we could make changes and still put out competitive teams.

‘But the key for us was to concentrate on the league and that's what got us promoted, really.

‘I think you have to, because it's very tough to go that number of games, especially in the English league, whatever league you are in.

‘It's tough, relentless and I think you need freshness throughout as well.’

At present, the Blues sit one point adrift of the play-off places but have games in hand on three of the four teams occupying those spots.

They are seven points off the top two, Rotherham and Coventry, with a game in hand on the the Millers.