Fittingly, perhaps, it was here in Switzerland that Chelsea's coach Claudio Ranieri received further confirmation of the mountain that needs to be climbed if his new club are to become the force he hopes they can.

A familiar vulnerability against unfancied sides saw them knocked out of this competition at the first hurdle by a small-town team quoted, when the draw was made, at 600-1 to lift the UEFA Cup.

The Premiership side had been warned against complacency by the nature of St Gallen's spirited and well-organised showing in the first leg. A 1-0 win in what had been the first match after Gianluca Vialli's sacking caught the downbeat mood of the west London club.

Last night, with Ranieri in situ, it was hoped that spirits had been replenished. Certainly Saturday's comeback to draw 3-3 at Manchester United suggested that was the case.

But St Gallen began with a steely determination, and Chelsea's firstleg lead was wiped out after 19 minutes.

Dennis Wise was absent with a chest infection, so Graeme le Saux was again handed the the captaincy, but the Swiss champions proceeded to slice open Chelsea's defence time and again throughout the first 25 minutes.

Their main weapons were the well-timed through ball allied to penetration down the flanks. With the stage set, St Gallen's first goal arrived on 19 minutes. And what a wonderfully worked move it was. With the home players running this way and that, Chelsea defenders just did not know who to pick up.

Taking advantage of the confusion, Charles Amoah fed Muller on the edge of the area, and with a sudden burst of pace the midfielder nipped between Bogarde and Frank Leboeuf and slipped the ball past Cudicini.

Despite the use of three strikers, Chelsea could hardly muster a shot on goal. And their problems were increased after half an hour when Roberto di Matteo collided with Daniel Imhof and was carried off with a broken left leg.

With little sympathy, St Gallen pressed for a second goal. Jairo had already shot just wide after Le Saux was dispossessed down the field, when the home side took the lead in the tie.

Once again Gane was instrumental. Despite the presence of Le Saux, he managed to squeeze in a cross from the right which the unmarked Amoah slotted past Cudicini.

However Chelsea knew that one goal could still win the tie, and Ranieri's attempts to inspire a second-half comeback commensurate with Saturday's began with the removal of the right-back Christian Panucci at half-time.

On came the Ratz Aleksidze for his first game for Chelsea, the Ukrainian slotting in on the wide left of midfield to help cope with the menace of Muller.

Slowly Chelsea began to get their passing together and exert more grip on the game. They even managed to produce some worthwhile chances but all to no avail.

ST GALLEN: Stiel; Zellweger, Imhof, Zwyssig, Dal Santo; Muller, Jairo, Guido, Nixon; Gane, Amoah. CHELSEA: Cudicini; Panucci (Aleksidze, h-t), Bogarde, Leboeuf, Le Saux; Melchiot, Di Matteo (Dalla Bona, 32), Morris; Zola, Hasselbaink, Flo (Gudjohnsen, 57)

Referee: P Garibian (France).