COMMENT: So who gave it away on Sunday? The players didn't. They kept going. Right to the end. The very end. Nor did the manager. He didn't hide, making those three changes when a goal down. But the fans? Those travelling Chelsea fans...?

Downing tools. Giving it away. Chelsea's players have been accused this season. And by the media's ex-players' brigade no less. But you couldn't question their drive on Sunday at Cardiff. They kept pushing. Striving. Yeah, it was scrappy. Disjointed. But heads didn't drop. No-one was hiding. They were all showing for the ball. Even on a day when it was clearly not sticking. And they did it while those in the stands had lost interest. The support that had followed them from London were more focused on barracking their manager than roaring them forward.

Ross Barkley was determined to get on the ball. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, thrown on after Victor Camarasa had fired the hosts ahead, kept pushing forward. Eden Hazard, another substitute, did the same. This all the while their away support was turning on Maurizio Sarri. In the process inviting home fans to join in on the mockery.

But Sarri's players shut it out. Yes, Cesar Azpilicueta's equaliser should never have stood. But the Spaniard was there. Alert to the chance. Eddie Smart handed it to him on a plate. But he still needed to be there to take it.

And then there was the manner of Loftus-Cheek's winner. It epitomised his cameo. Aggressive. Attacking. The first movement always forward. He forced himself ahead of Lee Peltier. It was he who was going reach that cross first. And he made the header count. In injury-time.

This was no classic. Not even a noteworthy smash-and-grab. But on effort. On character. When nothing was running their way (yes, yes we know. Apart from the refereeing). There was something to admire in Chelsea's refusal to be beaten.

At another time. With another manager. Sarri would be celebrated today. His substitutions worked. His management of academy graduate Loftus-Cheek this season rewarded with a matchwinning goal. Perhaps the best moment of the midfielder's club career.

But such plaudits are only worthy of another manager. Not Sarri. Not after Sunday.

We all heard them. Loud and clear. The chants that went round the world. 'F*** Sarri-ball'. 'We want Sarri out. We-want-Sarri-out'. There was not let up. Especially after Camarasa had put Cardiff in front.

You could dismiss the taunts of 'f*** Sarri-ball' at Stamford Bridge as the stuff of day trippers. The prawn sandwich lot. But Sunday at Cardiff? That was the hardcore. Up before dawn for a bus trip to Wales. Hundreds of pounds out of pocket. These are the most loyal. And for the venom aimed at Sarri, you just wonder whether the situation has any chance of being rescued.

When a goal down. That Blues support gave it away. Their disdain for the manager creating an opening for a bouncing home support to join in. The 'we want Sarri out' from the away end mirrored with 'we want Sarri in' from the most raucous of the home sections. The game. Chelsea's players. They were an afterthought. A distraction.

For Chelsea FC. For it's image. It was terrible. For the perception of the relationship between club and support. It was worse.

Sarri, as honest as ever. An honesty which has actually been criticised by ex-pros over the last 24 hours. He recognised the chants in the aftermath: "I was really disappointed for my players because they were fighting. Maybe it was better to wait until the end of the match."

And when asked if he believed he could win over those who want him out, the Italian added: "I don't know. I think we only need to win matches. If you win then the fans will be happy."

But is it as easy as that? Just win games? It wasn't enough at Cardiff. And it wasn't enough for Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho nor Rafa Benitez. Listening to those fans on Sunday, it had the makings of a line in the sand. A point off third place and in the last eight of the Europa League. Yet, there's a growing section of the support trying to hound him out of the club. Egged on by many ex-Blues in the media.

We can all lament the ruthless sack culture of Chelsea. Driven by the demands of owner Roman Abramovich. But who's at the wheel now?

And if Sarri can "win a few matches" and turn this all around, do those so happy for Cardiff fans to mock the Italian on Sunday, have it in them to wipe the slate clean?