West Ham United manager David Moyes is confident that he still has the backing of the club's hierarchy, but has admitted that his job is in "jeopardy" after suffering a heavy 5-1 home defeat to Newcastle United on Wednesday.
The 59-year-old's future has come under much scrutiny for a number of months, and West Ham's latest setback leaves them 15th in the Premier League table, sitting outside the relegation zone only on goal difference.
Many Hammers supporters had already left the London Stadium before Joelinton scored Newcastle's fifth on the night in added time, while a cacophony of boos were aimed at Moyes by those who decided to stay until the end.
West Ham have now lost 15 league games this term, one more than the entirety of last season, while Moyes has seen his team concede at least five goals in a top-flight home game for just the second time in his career, after his former side Everton suffered a 6-1 loss against Arsenal back in 2009.
A total of 13 Premier League managers have already left their roles so far this season, and Moyes is the bookmakers' favourite to be the next to get the axe, with West Ham at risk of dropping down to the Championship for the first time in 11 years.
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Asked for his thoughts on the mass exodus of home supporters in the second half, Moyes told Sky Sports News: "I might have walked out as well tonight. I know how it works.
"But sometimes when it's not so good, that's when you stand up and be a true supporter as well. We had some great results here last year in the league and Europe, but sometimes when things aren't going so well you need everybody behind you.
"I thought the crowd at the start of the game tonight was fantastic, so I've got no qualms with them leaving with a result like that tonight."
Moyes added: "I've got no doubt they [the board] are behind me. I'm confident in the way we work and what they think.
"But if you're a manager and you lose badly like I did tonight then you're always in jeopardy. I understand that."
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Declan Rice captained West Ham on a miserable night in East London, and the midfielder has backed his manager despite their current predicament at the wrong end of the Premier League table.
"I love working with the manager, so do players, how he is as a man, he is great with us," said Rice. "Fans voice their opinions, they want to see results and performances. It is tough, you have to block out the noise, as captain I have to keep the boys on it.
"I've been down in a relegation fight at West Ham before and there has been negativity, but there is not that with this group of boys."
A defensively woeful performance ultimately cost the Hammers against a ruthless Newcastle outfit, with Callum Wilson (2), Joelinton (2) and Alexander Isak all capitalising on errors to help the visitors run away with a comfortable victory.
Should Moyes remain in charge, he will hope to see significant improvements from his West Ham side when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham – who have lost their last four games in all tournaments – on Saturday.
Oliver Thomas
