Stuart Pearce insists there is no crisis at Manchester City.

The Blues go into tomorrow's encounter with West Ham at Eastlands on the back of 13 defeats in the last 16 games, including Wednesday's disastrous Carling Cup loss at Chesterfield.

Defeat to the Hammers, who started City's poor run with their FA Cup quarter-final win last March, could plunge Pearce's side into the bottom three.

Supporters are getting increasingly agitated at the situation and, while there is no imminent possibility of the sack, Pearce realises major questions are being asked of him outside the club.

"There is no crisis," he said. "People have a right to their opinion. They can look at our run of results and make an opinion on them.

"But there are three teams below us, we are level on points with Tottenham and only one behind West Ham, who have the strongest squad in their history.

"I won't make excuses. Our defeat at Chesterfield was poor but I have faith in my players and I will continue to do the job to the best of my ability."

Pearce was particularly keen to equate his own situation, and the intense scrutiny he is presently working under, to that of Spurs boss Martin Jol.

"Tottenham are on the same number of points as we are. Is Martin Jol going to a press conference and being asked whether his job is on the line or not?

"There are such thin dividing lines and things change very quickly. Blackburn were bottom of the table last week but they beat us and now they are in mid-table."  PA