Such is modern football, and indeed such is Chelsea, Graham Potter found the heat turned up on his tenure in the wake of the 4-1 defeat at former club Brighton on Saturday.
In just 90 minutes the Englishman's steady, often impressive start unravelled as he suffered his first defeat in his new role, and that was enough for many to get on his back.
It all meant that Wednesday's Champions League tie at home to Dinamo Zagreb, a dead rubber with Chelsea already through, took on a more important status than it could have done for the Blues manager, and it ultimately turned into an up and down night for Chelsea as they came from behind to win.
Here's what went right and wrong for Potter.
Potter would have been pleased with...
Raheem Sterling breaks his duck
Most of us would look at a run of eight games in which Sterling hadn't scored as a serious problem for one of the premier English attackers around, but then Sterling himself would tell you that he hasn't been playing as an attacker.
His recent stints at wing-back have of course largely centred around an attempt to bring a new attacking focus from the position, with Potter hoping it could unlock something in his still very new team, but it has been clear Sterling wasn't enjoying it.
Eviscerated by radio pundit and former Chelsea star Pat Nevin at the weekend, here Sterling was thrust into more of an attacking position, and he delivered with Chelsea's equaliser.
Potter will hope that the goal is the confidence boost Sterling needs, although he might struggle to put him at wing-back again.
Denis Zakaria emerging as an option
So he wasn't a figment of everyone's imagination after all.
Zakaria, seen by many as this season's Saul Niguez, emerged into the Blues starting lineup for this one, and promptly went and scored his first Champions League goal to put Chelsea ahead.
The Swiss is a player who has been on the radar of several clubs for several years, and there is clearly a talent there if he can be harnessed, but he's not the only quality player who can become lost in the massed ranks of options available to Potter.
He's got another one now though, and at a convenient time due to injuries... unless he's also injured himself now too...
The fighting spirit is there
With nothing really on the game, changes made to the team, both a big game against Arsenal and then a World Cup on the horizon and the heavens opening around Stamford Bridge, Chelsea's players would have had several excuses not to perform here.
Potter would have been concerned about that as well, as it would perhaps show that his players weren't playing for him in these early days of his tenure. Well, early by most club's standards anyway.
But they came back from Petkovic's early header past a static home defence, and the manager will be pleased with a show of resolve.
And the regrets...
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang failing to fire
He did play quite well, but there was no goal for Aubameyang here as focus turned to his own drought which stands at six appearances.
All three of the forward's Chelsea strikes arrived within 10 days of each other last month, and while Potter will be pleased with some of his link-up play including his combination with Sterling for the Englishman's strike, he could probably do with his No.9 getting a go sooner or later.
Or maybe he's just waiting for Arsenal's visit on Sunday?
And Ben Chilwell's injury
A heartbreaking blow to the left-back, whose World Cup hopes look over after a late hamstring injury.
It is never nice to see any player get injured of course, especially one who has suffered with issues before.
Potter will have to pick up both Chilwell and the deflated members of his squad.
