Another gut-wrenching defeat as West Bromwich Albion manager has made Steve Bruce the bookmakers’ favourite for the sack. Despite taking a 2-1 lead on 65 minutes, the Baggies capitulated to 16th-placed Swansea City and lost the game 3-2.
Audible boos echoed around the Hawthorns after West Brom fans watched their team extend their winless run to seven games. Just one win in their opening 11 games leaves the Baggies sitting 21st in the Championship - above the relegation zone on goal difference.
Now, less than one year from his Newcastle United dismissal, Bruce is expected to face the chop again.
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Unibet make Bruce the 5/2 favourite to be the next Championship manager sacked due to his disastrous run. Astonishingly, seven bosses have already lost their jobs in the second tier this season - an ominous sign for the former Toon boss.
Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder is also feeling the heat following their poor start to the campaign. The Teessiders were tipped as promotion candidates before a ball had been kicked but lie in the relegation zone, level on points with Bruce’s Baggies.
Asked if he had been given any assurances about his job, Bruce said: "No. I don't expect reassurances. I will get on with the job. We need to turn it around and I'm convinced we will.
"At the moment things are tough. We're nowhere near what is acceptable. And when I look around me and see managers gone we all understand the game. But I've not given up yet."
Bruce admitted things could have been different after Albion led 2-1 in the 65th minute and had a chance to go 3-2 up with Grant's 81st-minute penalty.
"Had we scored the penalty, the game was ours but that's where we are at the minute," he added.
As for the fans' reaction to him, Bruce said: "I can understand their frustration since I walked through the door.
"They've been great towards me but you can feel a frustration because of results. Apart from the first 10 games of last season, they've not seen enough wins in two years. I get it - they want to see their team win and we've good enough players to win matches, but we're not doing that."
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