While Erik ten Hag will get credit from some Manchester United fans for backing Bruno Fernandes, he still isn’t totally trusted by the wider fanbase. He can console himself that things aren’t as bad for him as they are for Mauricio Pochettino.
A good section of the Chelsea fans turned on him at Brentford, when even a late Axel Disasi equalizer couldn’t prevent them slipping down once again to the bottom half of the table, less than a week after they lost a cup final they could easily have won.
There is, however, something strange going on here. The Chelsea fans at the Bridge seem much less antagonistic towards the manager and indeed the current ownership, than the traveling hordes. Is it because there are more wins at home? I’m not so sure, Chelsea have won the same number of points home and away in the league until now.
Do Chelsea fans have multiple personalities or are there maybe two different sets of Chelsea fans? I suspect the answer could be closer to the latter. The core, dyed in the blue wool traveling fans are becoming disgruntled by how long it is taking for the big spending to bear fruit and are trusting the long-term project less and less each week.
Saturday was a big moment, and the ‘legacy’ fans made their feelings known. Fortunately for Mauricio, Todd and co, five of the next six games are at home, in front of a much more compliant audience.
This should make life seem a little more pleasant – in the short term at least.
Pat Nevin was writing for the BBC Football Extra newsletter