As Ben Chilwell took a knee-slide towards the stand in which Gary Lineker was sitting, he cupped both ears.
Presumably, it was not a gesture of support for the sanctioned Match of the Day host, who has often been self-deprecating when it comes to his shell-likes. Instead, it was a response to the pantomime jeers from home fans who remembered the five years of decent service he gave to their club.
And it was probably borne out of some of the frustration felt by Chilwell after the physical setbacks that have blighted his Chelsea career. His sweet first-time volley from a Kalidou Koulibaly cross that came down from the clouds was a symbol of Chilwell’s talent.
