THE HOUSE OF CARDS COLLAPSES

Malcolm Allison, one of Stuart Pearce's predecessors at Manchester City, used to say that you were never a real manager until you had been sacked.

There are plenty of people who hoped Pearce would be the exception but the former England captain is coming under intense scrutiny after the latest setback in what is threatening to become another sorry chapter in the club's chequered history.

Football is an unpredictable business and there is rich irony that the vultures are starting to circle only six months since City's livewire manager was on the Football Association shortlist to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The facts, however, are stark. In 2006 Pearce has overseen a meagre six Premiership victories, and only one away from the City of Manchester stadium.

Their one win this season came against Arsenal at the end of last month but they have already been beaten by Chelsea, Reading and Blackburn Rovers, while Wednesday's ignominious Carling Cup defeat at Chesterfield means that, going back to last season, they have lost 13 of their last 16 games.

It is a record of failure that has left Pearce acknowledging he is under pressure. City now embark on a run of five games, beginning at home to West Ham tomorrow, that could define his future.

"Even though I think I work pretty hard at the moment, I'm going to need to work even harder than before," said Pearce. "I've got to turn things round and find a way to install some confidence into these players.

"We have to have a close look at ourselves, the coaching methods and everything. When you get a couple of bad results, you have to strip everything down to the bare bones and try to analyse everything."