West Bromwich 2 Manchester City 1: THE TRANSFER window cannot come quickly enough for Manchester City but whether it opens in time to save Mark Hughes is another matter.
The City manager was described as "integral to our plans" when Sheikh Mansour took control in September but looks nothing like as secure after a chastening defeat here left the club in the relegation zone. "You're getting sacked in the morning," taunted the Albion fans before City supporters joined in.
Spending the second half of the season trying to preserve their Premier League status was not what those travelling from Manchester had in mind when the Abu Dhabi United Group talked about signing everyone from Cristiano Ronaldo to Fernando Torres, and it would be fair to assume that Sheikh Mansour is similarly underwhelmed after one win in nine league games and five points from a possible 27.
It is little surprise, then, that Hughes should plead for more time. "That's the intention," he said when asked whether he expects to be given the chance to spend City's millions next month.
"I've had assurances from Sheikh Mansour and the chairman Khaldoon [Al Mubarak] and they've been very positive. They understand where we are in our development. They're pragmatic people and understand it's not going to happen overnight. Time is something we all need, myself included. I know the quality of my staff, how we work and that it gains results."
Hughes asked for "everybody to be realistic about expectations" but said he understood the supporters' "frustration" following a listless performance that culminated in City conceding an injury-time goal for the second week running.
Substitute Felipe Caicedo had looked like pilfering a point for City after his improvised backheel tricked Scott Carson and trickled over the line in the 86th minute - Carson being credited with an own goal - to cancel out Luke Moore's strike but when Gianni Zuiverloon sent a deep cross into the penalty area Micah Richards ball-watched and Roman Bednar headed home.
It was shambolic defending and far from the only time that City looked uncomfortable at the back on an afternoon when Tony Mowbray's side adopted a more direct approach. The tactics worked and helped Albion secure a first win in 11 matches, although it was impossible to ignore City's shortcomings.
Hughes was without the Brazilian trio of Robinho (injured), Jo (ill) and Elano (dropped) but there still ought to have been more than enough quality within a squad replete with experienced names to emerge with a result.
Instead City slumped to a sobering defeat that prompted Hughes to claim some of his players are crumbling under the weight of expectation that accompanies being on the payroll at the world's richest club. "I think it probably has [affected the players] in recent weeks," said Hughes.
"We have to understand that the focus on Manchester City at this point in time is huge, probably bigger than it has ever been in the club's history. Some people will be able to deal with that, other people will struggle with that focus."
Perhaps the biggest problem for Hughes and the owners is that those who might be able to handle the pressure are unlikely to be interested in joining a team embroiled in a relegation battle.
"We're looking to bring good-quality players to the club to help our situation," claimed the City manager. "It's no guarantee how many of those players we'll be able to bring to the club but I think it's clear from everybody's point of view that we do need help."
No City supporter would disagree. The last time the club had so few points at this stage of the season they were relegated, under Joe Royle in 2001. It is a fate Albion are also familiar with, having slipped out of the top flight twice in the past five years, yet hopes of repeating their great escape in the 2004-05 season, when they survived despite being bottom at Christmas, are still alive.
Albion fully deserved victory, with the effervescent Bednar hitting a post before Moore scored his first goal for the club. A fine move prefaced the opener with Graham Dorrans and James Morrison combining before the former Aston Villa forward slipped a low shot under Joe Hart. City, finally roused, with Caicedo, a replacement for the injured Mwaruwari Benjani, equalising before Bednar capitalised on Richards' lack of concentration. Cue pandemonium among the home fans.
"I think we have got the talent to give teams problems home and away," said Mowbray. "Whether we can score enough goals and win enough games time will tell."
• Guardian Service
