Photo by Ian Cook - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Ian Cook - CameraSport via Getty Images
Former Chelsea star Tammy Abraham was unable to make the difference for Aston Villa as the Blues registered a huge win in the race for Champions League football.
The Cobham graduate started on the bench against his former side, who ran out 4-1 winners, largely thanks to a hat-trick from their current striker Joao Pedro.
It was a memorable day for the travelling Chelsea fans, who needed to see a reaction from their side after not winning any of their last three Premier League games.
Tammy Abraham given standing ovation by Chelsea fans
They gave their players a standing ovation at the full-time whistle, however also offered a nice reaction to Abraham when he wandered to his former supporters.
A video from journalist Kieran Gill shows the Chelsea fans applauding the striker, while he also embraced staff member Billy McCulloch.
Aston Villa v Chelsea - Premier League
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
The Scot has been with the club since 2001, and has emerged as one of the most popular figures at the club, holding strong relationships with everyone that comes into the first team squad.
Abraham scored 30 goals in 82 games for the Blues, a figure which suggests he could well have been the homemade answer to their long-running issues up front.
Pedro is now answering that call, and Chelsea are relying on their summer signing to continue to fire them to the top five in the final weeks of the season.
Alejandro Garnacho's performance in numbers from Chelsea vs Aston Villa
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Abraham’s reaction from Chelsea fans was rare
Chelsea fans are not known for showing admiration to their former players when they come up against them again following their departure.
Mason Mount and Noni Madueke have been greeted by loud boos at Stamford Bridge, potentially because they have moved directly to league rivals.
The pair have also been on the end of rough treatment from the Chelsea players too. Enzo Fernandez is always keen to leave something on a former player, even if he was teammates with them at one point.
The same does not occur for Abraham though, showing that Blues supporters will not get on top of players they believe left the club in mutual circumstances.