How much longer will Coventry City stick with Andy Thorn?

Andy Thorn has endured a torrid start to his first full season in charge of Coventry City. Three consecutive league defeats and an early Carling Cup exit at the hands of League One's Bury combined with a rapidly growing injury list has piled on the pressure on Thorn. The Sky Blues were agonisingly close to winning their first game of the season on Tuesday when they went into injury time a goal up against Crystal Palace. However, they were left shell-shocked after a last gasp smash-and-grab from the home side, who scored two injury time goals to snatch the game 2-1 and leave Coventry still without a point and second to bottom of the Championship.

Thorn was appointed the permanent manager of Coventry back in April - following a short stint as caretaker manager - and managed to save the club from relegation to League One with an 18^th place finish. After a series of positive results at the end of last season hopes were high that Thorn could build a squad capable of gaining promotion to the Premier League. The Sky Blues have been absent from England's top tier since they were relegated at the end of the 2000/01 season and there's nothing more their fans crave then a return to the big time. However, after a miserable summer in the transfer market - numerous players left the club while only a small number moved in the opposite direction - coupled with a poor start to the season has seemingly distinguished their promotion hopes already.

Thorn is currently the 5/2 favourite in the Next Championship Manager To Be Sacked Betting. For the moment it seems like he still has the support of the club's fans, who applauded the team off the pitch on Tuesday despite their heartbreaking last minute defeat. However, the limits of their patience will be tested if their poor start to the season continues, and another defeat on Saturday would see his odds shortened even further.

Coventry host Watford at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday, in a crucial match they they desperately need to win in order to get their season back on track. Watford are just a single place above Coventry in the league, after a similarly difficult start to the season, which was made worse when they were hammered 4-0 at home by West Ham on Tuesday. Paddy Power have Coventry priced at 6/4 to win their first game of the season, whereas Watford have odds of 9/4, with a draw available at 7/4.