Andy Clarke reporting

Chelsea left themselves with work still to do after another below-par performance at Stamford Bridge.

The managerless Blues created few opportunities, and had Christian Panucci to thank for scoring the only goal of the game after 25 minutes.

Following Gianluca Vialli's sacking, behind the scenes politics have dominated the build-up to this game.

However, such distractions are no excuse for Chelsea's lacklustre approach to the challenge presented by the well-organised Swiss champions.

Astiel in the St Gallen goal was seldom tested, with his first genuine save coming in the 85th minute, when he scampered across his goal to turn aside a pinpoint sidefoot shot from Marcel Desailly.

Indeed it was the visitors who had pressed the most in the second half, with Sascha Muller going closest with a 40 yard lob which drifted three feet too high, with Carlo Cudicini stranded.

The goal was well created by a clever pass from Dennis Wise, but Panucci's task - to beat Astiel with a delicate lob - was made easier by the fact that his marker Charles Amoah failed to track his run.

Chelsea's other chances were less clear-cut. Tore Andre Flo dithered when he was found in space 25 yards from goal, and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was unfortunate to see his clever free-kick bounce wide off the foot of a post.

Only 18,000 were present - Chelsea are above such competitions these days it seems - and many that did turn out chanted for their departed manager as the home side failed to get out of first gear.

The water which drenched their blue shirts was from the steady West London rain, rather than over-exertion.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Panucci, Leboeuf, Desailly, Hasselbaink, Wise, Le Saux, Di Matteo, Flo (Gudjohnsen 73), Dalla Bona (Morris 74), Zola.
Subs Not Used: Bogarde, Hitchcock, Melchiot, Ferrer, Harley.
Booked: Desailly, Hasselbaink.
Goals: Panucci 22.