After another stuttering performance marred by defensive frailties, Chelsea remain stuck at 14th in the Premier League, with just 24 points from 21 games.

Though one of Jose Mourinho's final acts as manager was to declare the chance of a fourth place finish gone, his replacement Guus Hiddink is still clinging onto it as a possibility.

Sort of.

After the Wednesday night draw in which Chelsea twice surrendered a lead, he insisted it remains mathematically achievable.

And it is: just as the number make it possible for Aston Villa, by far the worst side in this Premier League and well adrift at the bottom of the table, to accrue 62 points – enough last season to qualify for Europe.

To be fair to Hiddink, he was also clear that while theoretically possible, fourth was so far beyond the realms of likelihood that it stretched probability well beyond its limits of elasticity.

Some still argue this should be looked at as a title chase. After all, the gap between 14th and 4th is just 12 points.

Teams have overhauled that at the top of the league, goes the argument.

But importantly in such circumstances, that has required one team to go into a tailspin: here Chelsea need 10 teams to dive-bomb.

Realistically, fourth place was gone as fas back as October – and more achievable targets need to be considered.

Albion boss Tony Pulis reacts on the sidelines
Revealing comment: Tony Pulis during the match at Chelsea

A revealing comment came from Tony Pulis, minutes before Hiddink's press conference, who insisted the 13 points West Brom needed to reach the theoretical Plimsoll Line of 40 could not be taken for granted.

West Brom have four more points than Chelsea at present, and the two occupy adjacent places in the form table (Blues nine points from the last six, Baggies eight).

Under Mourinho this season, Chelsea managed just 0.9 points per game – that's relegation form in pretty much any season (last term it would have put them 18th, below the relegated Hull).

Since his departure, that has jumped to 1.8 points per game – at which continuing average, 54 points would be reached (the total achieved by Stoke, who came 9th last year).

And that's probably a good aspiration – top half of the table, and the worst league finish for Chelsea in 20 years.

Pointing the way: Chelsea's Dutch manager Guus Hiddink

There are other things that might make that more bearable. The FA Cup draw has been kind to Chelsea, and Hiddink will surely fancy repeating the triumph in that competition of his previous stint.

That would also carry the bonus of a Europa League place, though it is a substantial argument in itself whether that is worth the bother.

But as an insurance policy it would offer a form of European football to lure and retain players, give potentially more chances to blood youth that might make the grade, and provide a potential route into the following season's Champions League.

On the subject of that competition – we know miracles do happen.

But this season is looking far from miraculous, even after the turnaround.

Never write-off Chelsea when faced with adversity, but a more measured approach might be to consider any progression beyond looming opponents Paris Saint-Germain to be a bonus – particularly as the winners are likely to have to beat a ruthless-looking Barcelona.

So top half of the table, FA Cup win, qualify for Europe – that probably amounts to a reasonable rebuilding job on a season in crumbling ruins not so long ago.

Then, in the summer, the real reconstruction work has to take place.

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