Pardew The Flavour Of The Month - Bruce Isn't!

Two weeks ago the bookies slashed the betting on Alan Pardew to make him the next Premiership boss to 'walk the work'. But a couple of good results, and Mike Ashley stepping away from the limelight and . . suddenly the pressure moves from Tyneside to Wearside. Blackburn's Steve Kean continues to hang on by the hairs on his knackers, defying the bookies odds . but Mackem boss Steve Bruce is now second favourite for the axe. Kean is odds-on, with Bruce dropping to 11/4, and David Moyes is an outside bet at 9/1. Pardew is 18/1, in a safer position than Arsenal's Arsene Wenger at 10/1. West Brom boss Roy Hodgson believes the Sunderland board will stay calm and continue to back manager Steve Bruce despite the Black Cats' poor start to the campaign. Roy Hodgson: "Steve is a good manager and has done a remarkable job wherever he has been. "I think he and the club are more than strong enough to withstand whispers and rumours. "I think it would surprise me if a club like Sunderland had any knee-jerk reaction. "It is still early days in the season and Steve is in the throes of putting together a new team because, in the transfer market, he was very active this year. "We all know it takes time to gel together. "I think the itchy-finger syndrome is with us all the time in football. "We are used to that but only hope the people in football who make decisions make good ones."         

Source: FOOTYMAD