Portsmouth boss issues stark warning to players over recent form amid promotion shake-up

The Blues boss admitted his men have not been performing near their best at a critical juncture in the campaign.

And, as and when the season resumes after the current suspension, they need to immediately realise their potential if they are to reach the Championship.

Pompey disappointed as they came up short as they fell to defeat at promotion rivals Peterborough, while Jackett was also disappointed with the quality of performance against Fleetwood last Tuesday.

The season is currently suspended until April 3, with hopes elite football will still be seen through to a conclusion this term.

Jackett has held talks with his staff and is clear the levels of his team’s displays will need to go up as and when that happens.

Speaking before the suspension was announced, Jackett said: ‘We’ve talked about it and the players agree we need to play better than we have. That’s it.

‘It’s okay saying we have a great opportunity but then it’s how do you do that?

‘We need to get back to top form and play as well as we can. We haven’t been playing to our potential.

‘Last Tuesday in the first half in particular, we looked like undoing ourselves.

‘You can’t have a game where you look like you’re going to concede three goals. That’s it really.

‘Then we can attack constructively - more constructively than we have.

‘We need to sort our performances out. They haven’t been up there and as good as they can be.

‘So, see the opportunity and accept that we can do better. Then we have to set about putting it right.

‘It’s an exciting time in that sense, but we’re going to need to hit top form to do it.’

Despite the recent drop in results, Pompey find themselves handily placed in an incredibly congested promotion shake-up.

Amazingly, there’s just a single point covering six sides, with Rotherham two points ahead of the rest and Coventry five points clear at the top.

Jackett added: ‘We’ve worked hard to get ourselves into a really good position.

‘Coventry are away a little bit, but even so when you have a lead going into the last nine or two games that’s not easy either. That’s quite a difficult situation sometimes.

‘Anyway, it looks open and it looks open for us. There’s a good chance and a good opportunity.

‘Looking at the league table it looks quite open and exciting.

‘I have to be honest as a manager as well, though, and say we need to hit top form as well.

‘We need to be playing at our best and improve from what we’ve done.

‘That’s what we’ve said internally, and, after that you then need to work out how you’re going to do it.

‘We’re still in there with a good chance and a good opportunity.

‘There will be lots of sides still saying “if this” and “if that” when they look at the table.

‘It’s an exciting time and a big chance, a great chance.

‘We need to get somewhere near top form to do that.’