Sport 15-09-2000 Half-Filled Stamford Bridge Jeer "Dismal" Chelsea who: Chelsea what: Beat St Gallen 1-0 in UEFA Cup first round first leg where: Stamford Bridge, LONDON when: Last night snippet: "Dismal Chelsea were booed off," says Mark Irwin in The Sun, reporting on last night`s UEFA Cup 1-0 victory over St Gallen at Stamford Bridge, "as fans voiced their anger over the sacking of Gianluca Vialli." "The sparse crowd turned on Frank Leboeuf - Vialli`s biggest dressing-room critic before the boss was axed on Tuesday - and jeered him as soon as he touched the ball." "Remarkable as it may seem, the 500 travelling fans from Switzerland, complete with green wigs to match their team`s strip, comfortably outsung their Chelsea counterparts on a night that, in terms of atmosphere, resembled something of a wake for the deposed Italian," says Conrad Leach in The Independent. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink came close in the 22nd minute with a curling free kick and three minutes later defender Christian Panucci claimed his first goal for a lacklustre Chelsea. In the second half, they had only one shot at goal. But it was the Swiss champions who showed the most spirit, says The Star`s David Woods. Immediately after Panucci`s goal, "Swiss player of the year Charles Amoah looked set to burst clear on goal until he was hauled down by French defender Marcel Desailly, who was lucky to escape with a caution". Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that neither Terry Venables nor Tottenham`s George Graham will be approached by the club to replace Gianluca Vialli as manager. [... more]

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