Source: Daily_Mail
FIRING LINE: Three is the not so magic number for Sunderland boss Bruce
Be careful what you say, because it might just cost you your job. [LNB]Take Roberto Mancini: two months ago he was promising titles within 18 months, now he's looking over his shoulder as results aren't going his way. [LNB]But then all bosses are slaves to results. The threat of getting the sack hangs over every manager whose side isn't doing the business on the pitch. [LNB]So, who is the next Premier League manager for the chop? Sportsmail has an idea ... [LNB] The gap is growing: Steve Bruce shows us how far away his side are from putting a decent run of results together[LNB]Each week we bring you our latest chart of the managers under pressure, and those on Easy Street.[LNB] Here's Sportsmail's sack-race rankings - otherwise known as The Firing Line.[LNB] 1Sunderland - Steve BruceThirteen games since a win, a slide which began last November continues unabated. They have only kept two clean sheets in their last 15 games, too. Bruce faces Fulham at home next. NON-MOVER[LNB]2Hull City - Phil BrownHis cheeky grin will get him so far, what it won't do is get himmoving down this List. They have won just once in the last 15 in allcompetitions. A couple of weeks wait now for Everton clash. UP FIVE[LNB]3Man City - Roberto ManciniIt's safe to say that the honeymoon period is well and truly over.Winless in the last four in all competitions, a Champions League spotin danger of slipping away and its Chelsea next. UP TWELVE[LNB][LNB]4Portsmouth - Avram GrantThat, as they say, is pretty much that. Pompey's travails this season under Grant will amount to nought with the on-set of administration. Burnley next and they're playing for pride. DOWN TWO[LNB]5Bolton Wanderers - Owen CoyleThe managerial change has failed to inspire the Trotters to move up thetable. Winless in seven, the same number of goals they have concededin the last two games. Wolves next. NON-MOVER[LNB]6Burnley - Brian LawsIf the Clarets are to stay up Laws must target fixtures like the oneagainst Portsmouth on Saturday. Two wins in the last 18 is the kind ofform that takes you into the Championship. UP ONE[LNB]7West Ham - Gianfranco ZolaWhat a difference a couple of weeks make in football. Zola hastasted victory twice recently and won't be too disheartened by the lossat Old Trafford. Bolton next on Saturday. DOWN ONE[LNB][LNB]8Wolves - Mick McCarthyMcCarthy's analysis of the Chelsea defeat led him to claim his side were as good as the Blues. So he hasn't lost his sense of humour. His side need to improve in front of goal. Bolton next. DOWN FIVE[LNB][LNB]9Wigan - Roberto MartinezThe pitch at the DW stadium is being replaced but Martinez could do with replacing a few players. They have just one league win in the last seven and wont relish the trip to Birmingham. DOWN ONE[LNB]10Blackburn - Sam AllardyceGiven the wonky form for most of the season, Rovers fans will accept the mid-table mediocrity that faces them this season. They'll make it three wins in a row if they beat Liverpool. DOWN ONE[LNB][LNB]11Liverpool - Rafa BenitezRafa may have shored-up the now parsimonious Liverpool defence butthey have become boring to watch. Still, no one will care if ChampionsLeague football comes their way. Rovers next. UP ONE[LNB][LNB]12Stoke City - Tony PulisPulis' side remain one of the success stories of the season.Unbeaten in 11 and knocked Man City out of the cup this week. Can theycontinue their superb form at home to Arsenal? UP TWO[LNB]13Fulham - Roy HodgsonThe plaudits will, quite rightly, rain on Hodgson over the next fewdays after his side saw off Europa League holders Shakhtar. They'reback on league duty with a trip to Sunderland next. NON-MOVER[LNB]14Birmingham City - Alex McLeishBack-to-back defeats in the league haven't taken any gloss off theBlues' fabulous season but McLeish knows that European football iswithin reach and needs a win over Wigan. UP THREE[LNB][LNB]15Everton - David MoyesA fantastic run since the turn of the New Year came crashing to ahalt as a lacklustre performance away in Portugal ended the Europeandream. And it's a tricky clash with Spurs next. UP ONE[LNB][LNB]16Tottenham - Harry RedknappA good week for Redknapp who had watched his side slip in the league of late. But the wins over Wigan and Bolton mean momentum has been found ahead of clash with Everton. DOWN SIX[LNB]17Aston Villa - Martin O'NeillMartin O'Neill's side have hit a purple patch. A cup final on Sunday , progress in the FA cup and well placed for Champions League spot. Will Villa's 16-year trophy wait end on Sunday? DOWN FIVE [LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]18Arsenal - Arsene WengerNot even the Professor could predict who is going to win the title this year but they are sticking in there despite being written off with every stumble. It's a tricky clash with Stoke next. NON-MOVER[LNB][LNB] [LNB]19Chelsea - Carlo AncelottiThe defeat away at Inter has had people wondering what exactly Ancelotti's influence has been since he arrived. They play no differently to Mourinho's side of four years ago. Man City next. NON-MOVER[LNB]20Man United - Sir Alex FergusonSir Alex has been here many times before. Just a point separates the top two but they can't afford any more slip-ups like at Everton. Its Aston Villa in the Carling Cup next. NON-MOVER[LNB] THE FIRING LINE: Its double tops for Steve Bruce! The Black Cats' boss is our No 1 for the chop two weeks runningTHE FIRING LINE: Brucey bonus for Gianfranco Zola as Sunderland boss Steve denies West Ham man top spot in our list of those set for the sackTHE FIRING LINE: Avram is tops of the league... of managers on their way outTHE FIRING LINE: Rafa returns! Liverpool manager Benitez in the mire as he tops our list of beleaguered bosses Explore more:People:Steve Bruce, Owen Coyle, David Moyes, Brian Laws, Gianfranco Zola, Phil Brown, Roberto MartinezPlaces:Liverpool, Birmingham, Portugal
