The two men employed to carry the Premier League signage out onto the pitch bore the brunt of it. The match officials, deemed to be representatives of the organisation which has delivered Everton to the depths of the Premier League, were also treated to whistles and howls of derision before a ball was kicked.
Briefly, this was a different Goodison Park - febrile and boiling with perceived injustice. It was uncomfortable at times. A place with edge. Fireworks were released outside the stadium as the game played out. Fans remonstrated with journalists in the press box, finger-pointing after leaving their seats at half-time.