By Matt Burrows
Blues fans made their gratitude to sacked manager Jose Mourinho felt during Chelsea's 3-1 victory over Sunderland, just hours after Guus Hiddink's appointment as interim boss.
Several banners were unfurled before the match in support of Mourinho, with some directing the blame for Chelsea's poor run of form at the club's high-profile players.
One banner read "You let Jose down. You let us down", with another emblazoned with the words "The Three Rats – Hazard, Cesc and Costa".
That trio – Spanish pair Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa and Belgian Eden Hazard – are believed to be at the heart of a relationship breakdown that ultimately resulted in Mourinho's exit from the club.
Even a return to winning ways failed to appease fans, whose derogatory chants towards the players did not cease even when 3-0 up against the Black Cats - and each of the Blues' goals was greeted with chants of support for their departed manager.
Former Socceroos and Netherlands national team coach Guus Hiddink has been named Chelsea's interim boss until the end of the season, and will attempt to steer the club to a top-four finish in his second spell at Stamford Bridge.
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