Man City Boss Cool Despite Growing Pressure

With the pressure being cranked up on Manchester City boss Mark Hughes, Sparky seems to be as cool as a cucumber, despite seeing his side slump to their third defeat in four Premier League games on Sunday, against bottom-of-the-table West Brom.

The former Blackburn chief watched in horror as Roman Bednar headed West Brom a last-gasp winner at the Hawthorns, to leave City in the relegation zone.

It's not a position that Hughes anticipated being in when new money-bags chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, took over the club in September.

In fact, the football odds compilers were running scared and shortened City to around 50/1 to win the league. But after just one win in nine in the top flight, City can now be backed at 1000/1 on Betfair.

Meanwhile, the tabloid press will already be writing Hughes' City obituary. However, the pressure certainly doesn't appear to be getting to Hughes, and he is confident City's mega-rich owners will give him the time and cash he needs to turn the Eastlands outfit into a major force.

Hughes said, "Am I confident I will be given the money myself to spend? That is the intention. That's my view and I've had assurances from (City's owner) Sheikh Mansour and the chairman, who are very positive."

City will undoubtedly bolster their squad in January, and Hughes believes he will be the man to spend the money.

The City boss knows he must turn things around quickly, and hinted he might focus on home-based players as he tries to put things right immediately.

"There is no guarantee how many we will bring in but it is clear we do need help. We have to make sure we bring players in who will make an immediate impact," added Hughes.