Aston Villa left-back Lucas Digne was struck by a bottle thrown from the Goodison Park faithful upon his first return to Everton, since leaving less than two weeks ago.
The Frenchman has been the subject of boos and jeers from fans who once adored him throughout the first half of Saturday afternoon's lunchtime kick-off in Merseyside.
After the first 45 seemingly fizzling out to a close with very little to report, the game sparked into life with the last few kicks before the interval.
Digne made his way across the pitch to take a corner in front of Everton fans still presumably reeling from his shock departure to Villa Park earlier this month.
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The former Toffees star whipped in one of his trademark in-swinging corners that was planted firmly on the head of new teammate Emiliano Buendia who looped his header over Jordan Pickford.
Everton's No.1 got fingertips to the header in a move that actually appeared to take the ball over the head of Andros Townsend who was preparing to nod it off the line.
The goal sparked jubilant celebrations from both Villa boss Steven Gerrard and his backroom staff in the away dugout, as well as his players who a formed huddle in the corner of the pitch after going 1-0 up.
It was at that point a number of objects were clearly being thrown in the direction of the Villa players from the home crowd, with the majority missing before one struck the head of Digne.
Another caught teammate Matty Cash, who also fell to the ground after the ugly scenes from a small section of Goodison Park.
After the game, Cash addressed the incident, claiming: "Yeah it was crazy, it hit me straight in the head as well.
"It's not nice having that - but three points, we'll take that."
Everton have already confirmed they are working closely with the police to try and determine who threw the bottle and will sanction the strongest penalty if and when they are identified.
At the start of the second-half, a public announcement could be heard over the Goodison Park speakers urging fans not to throw anything on the pitch and insisting they will be banned and arrested if they do.
Digne's relationship with the Everton fanbase was notably strong while he was a Toffees player, with his exit stemming from a fall-out with manager Rafael Benitez who has since been sacked from his post.
The defender penned a touching tribute to his former fans in the wake of his departure while also sending a shot in the direction of his former boss.
"Sometimes it only takes one person from outside to destroy a beautiful love affair.
"Everything must come to an end. I just did not expect it to end this way. What has happened and some things that was said about me in the last month has made me very sad.
"But I will not enter a war on words with anyone. The club don’t deserve that, the fans don’t deserve that - and to be honest, I don’t feel that I deserve that.
"There are so many good and decent people in and around Everton who want to the best for this club and not only for themselves - and to them I can only say from my heart: I wish you the best!"
