The West Londoners started the new year two points behind (Picture: Getty)

Graham Potter says Chelsea “didn’t deserve it” to take all three points from Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest, but did not provide an update on Benoit Badiashile’s imminent arrival.

The Blues took the lead in rather bizarre circumstances when Willy Boly shot a ball high into the air and bounced off the crossbar into the barrel of Raheem Sterling, who fired from close range.

But a physical Forest side worried the West Londoners all along and they deservedly equalized midway through the second half when the ball ricocheted off a corner to Serge Aurier and he brilliantly passed Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The result leaves Chelsea seven points behind the top four and Potter admits his side were not good enough to beat Forest that day.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, the Chelsea manager said: “A hard-earned point against a team that is well put together. In the second half they put pressure on us.

Our level of performance was not good enough to take the three points. We didn’t move the ball fast enough, we didn’t have enough movement. Pierre [Emerick Aubameyang] had a good chance, but it would have been unfair to take the three points.

“When the game got a little out of hand, the duels got on our nerves and we struggled to handle them. It’s a tough game, Forest played well, but we’re disappointed with our performance in the 90 minutes.”

Aurier called off Sterling’s early opener (Photo: Getty)

Referring to Chelsea’s top four, he continued: “For us it’s about the next game and how we improve. We still have a long way to go in terms of what the team should look like and what the level of performance should be.

“So I think it would be a mistake to worry about what could happen in five months. I think we need to prepare for the next game and improve our level of performance and make it more consistent. That’s the process and that is what we have to do.”

Reports surfaced earlier on Sunday that Chelsea had finally agreed a £34 million fee with Monaco for defender Badiashile, with the Frenchman flying to London for a medical on Monday, but Potter declined to comment on the speculation.

When asked about reports that Badiashile has a doctor’s appointment on Monday, Potter said: “Until someone has told me someone has been signed, it would be unfair of me to comment. I was focusing on the team. I have no updates. Forgiveness.’

On whether the window is a distraction, he added at his press conference: “It’s part of the season we’re all struggling with so it’s not like I’m complaining about it.

“But of course it’s people, that’s everyone, and while the window is open there’s noise, there’s 24-hour media that needs to be filled with something.

“The January window gives people a chance to talk about things and that’s normal, but that’s part of the modern football we’re dealing with.”