Chelsea exited the Capital One Cup tonight in that most cruelest of fashions - a penalty shoot-out defeat.
Eden Hazard, so much the fall guy in this treacherous season, fumbled his lines as Jack Buckland save his effort.
Stoke City had converted all five of theirs and Hazard's failure, Chelsea's fifth meant the holders were out.
Jose Mourinho, so much under pressure, if national news media are to be believed, enjoyed, if that's the right word 100 percent support from the 5,000 travelling supporters.
That will mean so much to him personally and will send a signal to the club's board to ensure their very public support from him is translated in the transfer market in January.
On Saturday, the Blues take on Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in the league and it will be another massive test of faith for everybody involved at SW6.
Mourinho may have do so without Diego Costa who limped off at Stoke tonight.
But last-gasp goal scorer Loic Remy can justifiably expect a starting berth.
Jonathan Waters opened the scoring tonight but Remy notched up the equaliser deep into added time.
Chelsea could not take advantage of playing against 10 men when Peter Bardsley was then send off and extra-time and went with Chelsea unable to secure the desired winner.
Then it was down to the drama but non-footballing penalty shoot-out.