Source: Daily_Mail
THE FIRING LINE: Avram's under pressure as Hammers target safety
The results may be starting to trickle in for Avram Grant at West Ham but that does not mean his position is any safer.[LNB]If co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan wanted another fight against relegation they would have stuck with Gianfranco Zola. And with the Hammers still sitting in the bottom three, Grant still has much more work to do yet.[LNB] Royal approval? Avram Grant (right) with the Prince of Wales at a Buckingham Palace gala dinner earlier this week[LNB]Elsewhere, Alex McLeish's Birmingham are still struggling to pick up wins and along with Roberto Di Matteo's West Brom look most likely to fall into the clutches of West Ham and the relegation zone.[LNB]Each week we bring you our latest chart of the managers under pressure, and those on Easy Street. Here's Sportsmail's sack-race rankings - otherwise known as the Firing Line.[LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]1West Ham - Avram Grant Has done something right to get Robbie Keane working again and after the semi-final woe, West Ham are starting to pick up healthy points. Still in bottom three though. NON-MOVER[LNB] [LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]2BirminghamCity - Alex McLeish The Blues are living dangerously despite their draw against Man City. Only goal difference is keeping them out of the drop zone and the owners are not convinced with McLeish. NON-MOVER[LNB]3WestBromwich - Roberto Di Matteo The Baggies continue to stumble from one result to the next and Di Matteo will be more than concerned his team could not put away a Wigan side on the ropes. Man City away next. UPTHREE[LNB][LNB]4Aston Villa - Gerard Houllier Houllier's faith in spending a fortune on Darren Bent is being justified but after a defeat at Manchester United, Villa will hope to get back to winning ways at home to Fulham. NON-MOVER[LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB] [LNB][LNB][LNB]5Wigan- Roberto Martinez His team have not given up the fight for survival by any means but you have to question the lack of quality in the Latics who have only won four games all season. Blackburn next. NON-MOVER[LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB] [LNB][LNB]6Wolves- Mick McCarthyFailure to take their chances (and kamikaze defending) cost Wolves a point at Bolton. Sitting bottom of the table, fine margins like that can often prove crucial at the end of the season. UP TWO[LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]7Fulham- Mark Hughes Hughes' team have showed much more venom in recent weeks. The thrashing of Spurs was followed by a slick win against Newcastle. Fulhamno doubt enjoying a fine spell. DOWN FOUR[LNB]8 Blackburn- Steve KeanThe 7-1 loss in front of the owners at Man United proved to be the catalyst for Sam Allardyce's sacking. Maybe they are a jinx after again being present in Rovers' defeat to Spurs. UP TWO[LNB] [LNB][LNB][LNB]9ManCity - Roberto Mancini Their title chances are slipping away after throwing away two points at Birmingham. City are just not ruthless enough but are still looking good for a Champions League spot. NON-MOVER[LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB] [LNB][LNB][LNB] [LNB]10Chelsea- Carlo AncelottiSpent ?75m in the transfer window and it could have easily been ?100m. After a mid-season crisis, owner Roman Abramovich has 'backed' his man rather than 'sacked' him. DOWN THREE[LNB][LNB] [LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]11Newcastle - Alan Pardew Will be gutted not just to have lost his star striker but also by having no time to find a replacement. Newcastle look desperate in attack without Andy Carroll and could now struggle. NON-MOVER[LNB][LNB][LNB]12Sunderland- Steve BruceLeading contenders to challenge for what is currently the last Europa League spot in fifth but faces a tough task in holding off a vastly improving Liverpool side. At Stoke next. NON-MOVER[LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]13Everton- David Moyes Moyes is becoming a very frustrated figure on the Toffees touchline and even a few fans are starting to lose patience with the Scot. Is still much more likely to walk rather than get sacked. UP THREE[LNB][LNB]14Stoke City - Tony PulisTwo recent defeats are a setback for the Potters' hopes for Europe but they can still count themselves in the mix. If the league route doesn't work there is always the FA Cup. NON-MOVER[LNB][LNB] [LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB] [LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]15Bolton- Owen Coyle Will be more relieved than pleased after seeing new loan signing Daniel Sturridge stick an injury time winner past Wolves. Time to kick-start their challenge for a European spot. DOWN TWO[LNB][LNB] [LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]16Blackpool - Ian Holloway It was inevitable Blackpool would hit a poor run of form at some point. Having lost five of their last six they're the most out of form side in the league and are looking down rather than up. DOWN ONE[LNB][LNB][LNB]17Tottenham- Harry RedknappSigns of cracks emerging at White Hart Lane. Redknapp was very disappointed at not being able to bring a striker in the transfer windowand Spurs are far from their fluent best. Bolton next. UP ONE[LNB][LNB]18Liverpool- Kenny DalglishIt's all starting to click under King Kenny, albeit with a few million spent here or there. Liverpool have won their last three games and that's before Carroll has even featured. DOWN ONE[LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]19Arsenal- Arsene Wenger Arsenal are flying and currently the only club in realistic reach of Manchester United in the title fight. Wenger's silence in the transfer market shows he is more than happy with his squad. NON-MOVER[LNB]20Man United - Sir Alex FergusonThe class of 1992 may be starting to wheel out their Zimmer Frames but there is no sign of Fergie and a delivery van of medals heading for the old folks home yet. Wolves next. NON-MOVER [LNB] THE FIRING LINE: Feeling Blue - Avram Grant left with little prospects after semi-final defeatThe Firing Line: The league is upside down... Grant is top for the chop again![LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Ian Holloway, Steve Bruce, Robbie Keane, David Moyes, Mark Hughes, Harry Redknapp, Roberto Di Matteo, Andy Carroll, Mick McCarthy, Sam Allardyce, Kenny Dalglish, David Sullivan, Gianfranco Zola, Tony Pulis, David Gold, Alex McLeish, Roman Abramovich, Roberto Mancini, Owen Coyle, Roberto Martinez, Daniel Sturridge Places: Liverpool, Newcastle, Birmingham, Europe
