Theoretically, Chelsea should be patient when other clubs are actively involved in European competition and then they will have an advantage over them. The problem is that Poccetino can be sacked before this period because if you lose to Nottingham, then all other options do not matter. Therefore, in the next away game with Bournemouth, Chelsea only need a victory, and then a home victory over Aston Villa. By the way, Chelsea have a rather easy calendar (up to the 9th round when they play with Arsenal), so there are chances to return to business.
Even Poch himself felt that they should have won. He knows what the expectations are from Chelsea here but I don't get that a strong team vibe from them. They have piled a huge no. of players only to warm their bench and nothing else. Yeah easy fixtures up ahead for Chelsea but Nottingham was an easy one too but they still lost it. They really need to try something else here because they need to be on winning ways otherwise it will be another coach sacked.