Luiz Felipe Scolari’s apprehension was well-founded. If the Chelsea manager was tetchy in the build-up to the match in Bordeaux last night, then pity his friends and family in the run-in to next month’s nail-biting encounter against CFR Cluj at Stamford Bridge, which Chelsea must win to make sure of qualification for the Champions League first knockout round.

After initially threatening to run away with group A, last year’s beaten finalists face the indignity of an eleventh-hour scrap to qualify. They should still do so comfortably against a limited side who have already been eliminated — Chelsea will not need even a point if Roma beat Bordeaux in the group’s other remaining fixture — but pressure can do strange things to the most accomplished teams, as was demonstrated here.

Scolari’s frustration will be compounded because, despite being second-best for long spells, his side had shown enough grit and determination to score the goal they needed — brilliantly taken by Nicolas Anelka — only to self-destruct. Chelsea were seven minutes away from qualification and seemingly cruising when the defensive deficiencies that led to the shock 3-1 defeat away to Roma this month returned with a vengeance, all the more surprising given that John Terry was again culpable. Yoann Gourcuff’s 83rd-minute corner from the right caused chaos in the penalty area, with Alou Diarra pulling away from Terry to head past Petr Cech, who could not be faulted after another outstanding display.

To make matters worse, Frank Lampard was sent off for the third time in his career soon after, the England midfield player picking up a second booking for a foul on Fernando, and he will miss the decisive match against Cluj.

Chelsea trudged out of the Stade Chaban-Delmas as if they had lost the game — almost as slowly as a disconsolate Lampard left the pitch — but these things are all about perspective. When he watches the match again today, Scolari will discover that Chelsea could easily have lost. They started with uncharacteristic hesitancy and were hanging on by the end.

Bordeaux used their extra man to full effect in the last five minutes as they pushed hard for a winner, which they might have got had Fernando Cavenaghi, a substitute, found the target when he was clear on goal in the final minute.

Scolari will contend that it should have been better, however, and he will hold a frank discussion with his players in the next few days to ascertain where they have lost their way. Despite their place at the top of the Barclays Premier League, Chelsea’s performances defy easy classification this season and some worrying trends are emerging.

A decent assessment would be “inconsistent at home, transcendent away”, yet even that summing-up is flawed because they have frequently failed to play well on European away days. Such travel-sickness is not a recent phenomenon — they have not won away from home in the Champions League in seven attempts stretching back almost a year, a dismal record that they must improve if they are to have a hope of reaching the final in Rome next May.

Chelsea began as badly as they had finished in the Italian capital three weeks ago, and without three excellent saves from Cech would have been behind at half-time. Gourcuff was their chief tormentor, demonstrating great touch and technique to get the better of Michael Ballack and Lampard in midfield. The France midfield player, 22, is on a season-long loan from AC Milan after failing to make an impact in two years in Italy, but on this evidence he is good enough to return to the San Siro.

In the first half, Gourcuff displayed the kind of artistry and vision usually the preserve of the suspended Deco. Bordeaux’s first chance came from nowhere, with Fernando’s shot from 40 yards requiring Cech to make a smart save low to his right.

A pass by Gourcuff caught Ashley Cole out of position, with Matthieu Chalmé shooting straight at the goalkeeper, before Gourcuff produced the moment of the match, an exquisite swivel followed by a left-foot shot saved by Cech. Chelsea’s discomfort spilt over into the kind of fractiousness often displayed by a tired toddler, with Terry, Lampard and Ashley Cole all being booked for late challenges in the space of five minutes.

Scolari decided against making changes at half-time, although with only forwards and defenders on the bench, he had few options to alter things in midfield, the area in which the game was drifting away.

Instead, the visiting team opted to hold what they had, dangerous tactics that looked like paying off when Anelka scored his second Champions League goal of the season and his fourteenth in all. Lampard’s through-ball caught Bordeaux unawares, with Souleymane Diawara hopelessly out of position as he was for most of his brief spell with Charlton Athletic, enabling Anelka to capitalise. The striker showed remarkable composure to dummy twice before beating Matthieu Valverde at the near post with the third swing of his right boot.

In a week dominated by the posturing of Didier Drogba, the forward formerly known as Le Incredible Sulk appeared to have taken Chelsea through to the next stage, but given the way they capitulated, Scolari’s changing mood will continue to be the focus. Mr Grumpy may be here to stay.

Bordeaux (4-2-3-1): M Valverde — M Chalmé, M Planus, S Diawara, F Jurietti — Fernando, A Diarra — Y Gouffran (sub: F Cavenaghi, 67min), Y Gourcuff, Wendel (sub: G Obertan, 76) — M Chamakh. Substitutes not used: K Olimpa, D Bellion, D Placente, A Traoré, B Trémoulinas. Booked: Gourcuff, Jurietti, Chamakh.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): P Cech — J Bosingwa, B Ivanovic, J Terry, A Cole — J O Mikel — J Cole (sub: P Ferreira, 83), M Ballack, F Lampard, F Malouda — N Anelka (sub: D Drogba, 62). Substitutes not used: C Cudicini, W Bridge, P Ferreira, S Kalou, Alex, M Stoch. Booked: Terry, Lampard, A Cole, J Cole. Sent off: Lampard.

Referee: F de Bleeckere (Belgium).