I played for Chelsea and anyone who thinks we were title challengers is an idiot

That's the view of ex-Blues defender Jason Cundy, who believes the west London outfit were never as good as what was being said.

Enzo Maresca's side were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth on Tuesday night.

Chelsea went into the break leading but were had to be rescued by a last-minute free-kick from Reece James.

The result leaves them ten points behind leaders Liverpool, and hanging onto fourth spot by two points, though Newcastle can leapfrog them with a win against Wolves on Wednesday night.

Once tipped as title contenders, Chelsea could have briefly gone top of the table before Christmas had they beaten Everton at Goodison Park.

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Since that clash in Merseyside, they have failed to win their next four top-flight encounters against Ipswich, Fulham, Crystal Palace and now Bournemouth.

Their form has left the door open for Newcastle, Manchester City and even the Cherries to go above Chelsea should they continue to slip up.

Speaking on The Sports Bar, co-host Jermaine Pennant questioned whether it would now be considered a disappointing season for Chelsea if they now finish outside of the top four - despite not being tipped for a Champions League spot before the campaign started.

To which Cundy immediately rejected the notion that his former employers were ever legitimate contenders to get their hands on the Premier League.

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He said: "Anyone talking about Chelsea winning the title are idiots."

Hitting back, ex-Liverpool midfielder Pennant replied: "No, there was a little period Cundy, you were the closest challengers."

Not having it, a defiant Cundy insisted: "But that doesn't mean that you're in the title race."

Again, Pennant looked to stress that Chelsea had to be labelled as legitimate contenders as they were the team closest to the Reds in December, while saying if they continued to win matches, they were bang in the race.

But Cundy refused to buy his logic, as he stated: "No we weren't. Honestly I can't stress [that] enough.

"The 'if' [winning run] was never happening. The only people that wanted that [title talk] were people that didn't watch enough of Chelsea.

"Because we were never that team, I watched us, we were two goals up away at Leicester [November 23], won it 2-1.

"Two goals up against Spurs [December 8], won it 4-3, we concede late goals, we concede second half goals.

"I think it's one of those league tables that if you didn't watch Chelsea, you'd go, 'Chelsea are in the title race.'

"If you watched Chelsea, you'd go, 'Nah, Chelsea are not in the title race.'

"We just weren't that team, and I have to say though, I'm going to be disappointed if we don't get Champions League football.

"I'll say that much, but the top five might get it [due to coefficient scores]."

Cundy continued: "I think Newcastle will catch us, I think City will catch us right now.

"I genuinely do, I think the pair of them will catch us, I think I'm going to be disappointed.

"But, there's two different things, not to finish in the top four or five because [top] five might get you in the Champions League.

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"But to win the title? No. Only idiots thought that."

Attention for Chelsea will now turn towards next Monday's meeting with Wolves. who they smashed 6-2 at Molineux earlier in the season.