Graham Potter delivered a withering assessment of his Chelsea players after their disappointing draw at Nottingham Forest left them seven points outside the top four.

Raheem Sterling gave the visitors a first-half lead but they were unable to build on that advantage and Forest deservedly equalised through Serge Aurier midway through the second half.

They now face Manchester City at home on Thursday before taking on the same opponents away in the third round of the FA Cup three days later.

‘The performance level was not good enough,’ said Potter. ‘When the game was controlled in the first half we didn’t do well enough, and in the second half when it was uncontrolled, we suffered.

‘We had a chance through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the end and we rallied later in the second half but it would have been unfair if we’d taken more than a point. We have a responsibility to do better and we can do better.’

Chelsea continue to pursue a deal for Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, which is likely to cost more than £100million from Benfica. Asked whether the speculation could affect his squad, Potter said: ‘The players are humans and there is always noise around the window, but it is a part of the season we have to deal with.’

Forest boss Steve Cooper added that his side are hoping to bring in more players in the January transfer window after signing a remarkable 23 following promotion last summer.

He said: ‘I hope so. You say it through gritted teeth because people will talk about the summer and Forest signing players again, but we’ve picked up some injuries to key players. If we can add the right players in the right positions then we will do that.

‘I know we didn’t win here but it was a good reference point that we can play against the big teams in the league. We’re in control of our destiny and we have to keep building.’