West Ham United boss Manuel Pellegrini is clinging on for dear life but faces a new nightmare scenario for the visit of Leicester City.
West Ham were up to their usual tricks against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.
The Hammers have thrown away more points from winning positions than any other team in the Premier League.
Pellegrini’s side have squandered 15 points from matches where they have been in front.
West Ham bottlers could be fourth
That would have seen West Ham sitting pretty in fourth place in the table right now.
Instead the East Londoners are on the brink of the relegation zone.
There is a quick turnaround for tomorrow’s home game against Leicester City.
And it has emerged that Pellegrini faces a new nightmare selection problem for the Foxes. The Chilean will be forced to play the hapless Arthur Masuaku at left-back.
Aaron Cresswell picked up his fifth booking of the season against Palace.
Nightmare scenario after Cresswell booking
So he is suspended for a game Pellegrini must win. That means the woeful Masuaku comes back in.
The left-back takes every opportunity he gets to tell everyone he is not a defender.
Masuaku was last seen gifting Arsenal a route back into the game after coming on as a second half substitute against the Gunners in a 3-1 defeat.
West Ham were leading 1-0 before he entered the fray.
Hapless Masuaku spells trouble for Hammers
The prospect of Masuaku up against Leicester’s pacy attackers will send shivers down the spines of the Hammers faithful.
And if the DR Congo international continues his recent form in a West Ham shirt it could spell another defeat for Pellegrini.
That, according to reports, could cost him his job as a point for Aston Villa at Watford would push West Ham into the relegation zone at the halfway stage in the season.