THAT’S YOUR LOT

Pellegrini is facing sack if Hammers lose to Saints... with Moyes and Hughton in wings

WEST HAM are lining up replacements for Manuel Pellegrini in case they lose to Southampton on Saturday.

Senior figures fear they will need to take action, if they suffer defeat to their relegation rivals, to stay in the Premier League.

Free agents David Moyes and Chris Hughton (right) head the queue of potential replacements and the Irons would have to pay the remaining 18 months on

Pellegrini’s

£10million-ayear contract if he is axed.

Rafa

Benitez also retains a good relationship with the Hammers board after twice coming close to joining the club.

But he is currently at Chinese club Dalian Yifang with two years left on his contract and he said on Monday night: “There is no way I will come back now.” West Ham have won only one of their past 11 games, losing seven Premier League matches and crashing out of the Carabao Cup at League One’s Oxford. They have also conceded at least two goals in five of their last six games and are just one point off the drop zone.

Defeat to the Saints could see Pellegrini’s men replace them in the bottom three, if Aston Villa get a point at Sheffield United. West Ham’s shocking surrender to Arsenal on Monday night allowed the out-of-form Gunners to come back from a half-time losing position.

The Hammers’ poor form had been blamed on the poor quality of reserve keeper Roberto. But the Spaniard, 33, was axed ahead of the Hammers’ surprise win over Chelsea last month and will not play again for the club. Speaking after the 3-1 loss to Arsenal, Pellegrini said “It is difficult to understand. We dominated the game for 60 minutes and then lost the game. You must understand the boos (from the fans) because the last five games we played here we didn’t win.

“If you don’t win at home, your fans cannot be happy.”