bwin Sportsblog - Football - Next up on the sack race

Its a gruesome market but betting on who is the next top flight boss to get the sack has always intrigued punters. West Ham United's 3-1 loss to fellow relegation strugglers Bolton Wanderers has deepened the crisis at West Ham. If they go down then few will have sympathy and certainly not after the Carlos Tevez affair and the relegation of Sheffield United a few seasons ago. Gianfranco Zola is under massive pressure now but West Ham have scored more goals than any other team in the bottom half of the league. But conceding on average two goals per game basically means that you have to score three to win. All the bottom clubs have been picking up points lately and this has left Burnley now only two points clear of the drop with over half a season to go. Same thing happened to Hull City last season although a little later into the season. Owen Coyle will not get the sack and neither should he. This season has been nothing short of a bonus for them after their promotion via the play-offs last season. According to the press, Phil Brown was under pressure at Hull City much to my surprise but having said that you never can tell what is happening behind the scenes at football clubs. I read in the news that Rafael Benitez has "guaranteed" that Liverpool will be top four this season....that's bold to put it mildly. I know that Rafa due to being Spanish sometimes uses the wrong words in interviews but this is normally in situations where it doesn't matter. This time though, if he doesn't make top four after a "guarantee" then he will have dug his own pit. I just don't see how he can do that. He knows how well the big three are playing and it is unlikely that they will catch those three so they are effectively playing for 4th. So far Aston Villa, Spurs and Man City are all competing for that spot and Liverpool are 7pts adrift of it as we speak and not playing well. We could be looking at a 10pt gap before the "level" that Rafa claims that Liverpool will reach is actually reached. It will be an interesting festive football period that's for sure, anyway see you soon and take care. Carl "The Dean" Sampson Bet live and in play with bwin live betting