Gabby Agbonlahor was not buying Thomas Tuchel's excuse that his Chelsea players were 'tired' in their 1-1 draw with Brighton.

The Blues' Premier League title hopes took a dent on Tuesday night with a draw at the Amex Stadium.

Tuchel said the Chelsea players need to 'recharge their batteries'

Hakim Ziyech's first-half opener was cancelled out by stand-in Seagulls skipper Adam Webster to leave them 12 points behind Man City having played a game more.

Tuchel once again bemoaned his club's punishing schedule and now plans to give his players two days off ahead of Sunday's home game against Tottenham.

Asked to explain the recent poor league form, the German replied: "I answered this question a hundred times, if you look at our situation of long-term injuries, of key players injured, and of Covid and you look at our schedule you will have the answer.

"We are mentally tired and physically tired, you can see it in our performance, it's as easy as that. We need to recharge the batteries, we need to reconnect.

"This is my feeling, that's why I give the players two days off and then we will use Friday and Saturday to prepare for Sunday."

Even Chelsea's goal celebration was muted against Brighton

But Agbonlahor was not having that excuse from Tuchel, saying a number of those players have had rests recently.

"There is problems at Chelsea, but I don't understand why the manager is saying 'they're tired, they're tired'," the former Aston Villa striker told talkSPORT.

"A lot of these players are getting rotated. Lukaku has been injured, so he's had a break. Ziyech has been in and out, Mason Mount has had rest as well.

"Come on, get on with it. There's a winter break next week."

It was another lacklustre display from Chelsea, who have not won in their last four Premier League games.

Lukaku has now gone three straight games without scoring and Agbonlahor thinks the Blues now look a million miles off the title race.

Lukaku was taken off with 10 minutes to go after failing to score again

"When I look at Chelsea, I look at how much they miss Reece James and Ben Chilwell," he added. "You've got quality players to fill in like Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso, but they aren't as good.

"How many goals has Lukaku scored from crosses by James and Chilwell.

"Defensively, they are better than Azpilicueta and Alonso. I actually felt sorry for Lukaku last night was if he got the ball, the only way he was going to scored was if he took a couple of players on and got a shot off.

"For me, he was starved on service from anyone. Hudson-Odoi, Ziyech weren't putting anything on a plate for him.

"Because he [Ziyech] has been poor recently, he's heard the criticism and maybe his manager has even said it to him. That's what players do with their egos, they don't celebrate. 

"I've seen a lot of players do it, saying to the manager that's what he can do. The likes of him, Hudson-Odoi and Pulisic have to look at Sterling, Mahrez at Man City and look at what they're doing. That's what makes you champions.

"Look at Chelsea now, they're a million miles off it. All over the pitch as well. Alonso is getting found out."