Pressure builds on struggling managers

Rock^Star SG

The new year has not brought much cheer for four Premier League managers after Wednesday's results put them under severe pressure to keep their jobs.

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• Premier League gallery
• Forum: Are Villa too good to go down?

Chelsea's sensational form slump continued as they lost 1-0 away to Wolves, leaving Carlo Ancelotti searching for answers, while Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson - already believed to be on the brink of being replaced - saw his side fall to a heavy 3-1 defeat at Blackburn.

At the bottom of the table, Avram Grant's lowly West Ham were thrashed 5-0 at Newcastle and Aston Villa fell into the relegation zone by virtue of Wolves' win and their 1-0 loss at home to Sunderland, prompting fans to call for Gerard Houllier's head.

All four clubs are performing well below their respective expectations this season and while Hodgson, Houllier and Grant are all new to their clubs this season, the decline of Ancelotti's Chelsea has in some ways been the most surprising. From winning the domestic double last season, Chelsea find themselves all but out of the title race just over halfway through the season and currently sit outside the Champions League places in fifth having won just one of their past nine league matches.

Asked after the Wolves result if he was confident he was the right man for the job, Ancelotti said: "Yes, I know this team very well and I'm sure that this moment will change and we will be able to fight for everything this season. I would be surprised if I am sacked. I don't fear (for my job). I'm worried because the team doesn't reach the result. I think it's obvious we are not good enough in this moment.

"It's not my decision. I hope I can continue this job, because I would like to stay here and I have a good relationship with the players and with the club."

Hodgson is the bookmakers' favourite to be axed next and after Liverpool's latest defeat, which left them in 12th just five points better off than rock bottom West Ham; he gave a two-minute interview in which he answered just three questions after the defeat at Blackburn. Liverpool legend and current club advisor Kenny Dalglish is heavily rumoured to take over from Hodgson on a temporary basis.

Hodgson said: "I am not prepared to talk about [my future] because obviously I am depressed enough with the performance and the result. I have no comments to make and I have no intention to answer any questions on the subject. [I feel] dejection, bitter disappointment, frustration. I am very disappointed for the fans who gave us good support and saw the team concede the goals we did."

Houllier was more upbeat despite being the manager to lose in front of his home supporters as Phil Bardsley's goal inflicted Villa's 10th loss of the season, already two more defeats than they had across what became Martin O'Neill's farewell season last term.

Villa fans chanted "you're getting sacked in the morning" but Houllier tried to brush off the jeers, saying: "I heard it and it hurts. But I when I hear the chants it strengthens my resolve to put things right. I spoke to (chief executive) Paul Faulkner and he was very supportive. I don't doubt (chairman) Randy Lerner's firm support and determination. We are in this together for better or worse."

Wolves' victory also left West Ham on the bottom again as the Hammers' mini-revival ended with a bang thanks to a hat-trick by Newcastle striker Leon Best and goals from Kevin Nolan and Peter Lovenkrands at St James' Park.

Grant said: "I feel confident I'm the man to lead us out of trouble. Look what we've done before this game. We were on the bottom but playecd good football to take points and climb up the table. That result is difficult to explain. It was a bad day at the office."

Rock^Star SG

Imo, houllier shd be sacked outright. He came and riled a lot of the senior players.

Hodgson shd resign to save himself from further reputation damage,. I think he deserves a better squad than the current one at liverpool. But then again, a sack means more money right lol. Ancelotti shd be given more time.

Wolves has 6 wins so far, they definitely deserve to stay up.

Very reluctant actually for any of the current bottom three to go down.

Rock^Star SG

On account of below, this fella also deserves sacking.

"I don't like the game," Grant said. "I don't like the performance, I don't like how we played, but in football, that happens. Sunderland lost here 5-1 and afterwards, they have won many games, so it happens."

The man who was death SG

what's so wrong with what grant said?? what do u expect him to say?? Houllier has said even worse things than him...but he wasn't wrong to drop dunne and ireland, if you've seen them play u'll know..........

Rock^Star SG

well, maybe it's easy for me to say but he couldn't bring the best out of his key players. And it's not just a simple performance of the players issue. He came in and implemented a lot of his own methods too fast too quickly. Villa players were after all used to an irishman, now the gaffer's a frenchman.

As for grant, I think he should cut all that crap and say, we are genuinely in a crisis and let's step up a gear. Most times, he says they wil turn the corner. Yes as the gaffer he has to manage his PR well so as not to affect the confidence of players. But then now he compares west ham with sunderland.....that's bloody unrealistic man. West ham is not sunderland at all as the latter is much more solid under steve bruce.

Rock^Star SG

Hodgson has left liverpool my mutual consent. Dalglish takes over. You'll never walk alone.