Source: Daily_Mail
Struggling Hull City manager Iain Dowie knows his job is not safe
Hull boss Iain Dowie is refusing to contemplate his long-term future at the club as he attempts to secure their Barclays Premier League status. [LNB]Chairman Adam Pearson gave Dowie nine games to save the club from relegation as their management consultant. [LNB]Dowie guided them to a home win over Fulham but lost heavily at home to fellow strugglers Burnley and he has suffered defeats at Portsmouth and Stoke. He secured a point in a dour goalless draw at Birmingham on Saturday. [LNB] Up for the battle: Hull secured a crucial point at Birmingham last weekend [LNB]Tonight Hull face Champions League-chasing Aston Villa which istheir game in hand on West Ham. They are three points behind GianfrancoZola's team but with a much-inferior goal difference, 19 behind theirrivals. [LNB]Eye of the Tiger: Hull boss Iain Dowie [LNB][LNB]Dowie said: 'I knew it was a nine-game scenario when I came in. Andyou can read and talk about the financial future of the club but it isnot about that. Now it is about focussing on things we can control andthings we have an input on which are our performances, our effort, ourlevel of commitment and our desire to keep City in the Premier League. [LNB]'As Sir Alex Ferguson said, this is squeaky bottom time. We couldhave done with another 20 points but there has been a lot of supportfrom the staff and the players and hopefully we will be able to get aresult against Villa.' [LNB]Dowie, who will still be without defender Anthony Gardner forVilla's visit tonight, is still confident he can catch his former clubWest Ham. [LNB]He added: 'They are still massively, very much in sight. If we winour game in hand, if we put decent points on the board in the next twogames, we'll be right in the shake-up.[LNB] 'We're well aware of the threat that Villa pose. I think they'rethe third best team away from home in the league, we know what theybring. 'We've got to make sure that we cope with their threats but alsomake sure we expose one or two weaknesses they have.'[LNB] What a difference a year makes: Pictures reveal how many trees STILL have no leaves after harsh winterTHE LIST: Sportsmail's top 50 English flops of the season - Nos 50-41Birmingham 0 Hull 0: Haunted Dowie is happy for the Tigers to play it safeHULL CITY FC
