Will sack face favourite Alan Pardew live to manage another day at Crystal Palace?

Two years ago in December 2014 Neil Warnock’s Crystal Palace slipped to a 3-1 defeat at home to Southampton. Less than 24 hours later and the veteran gaffer had become the first manager of the 2014/15 season to be sent packing - he’d only taken over from Tony Pulis in August.

Now, the current Eagles incumbent, Alan Pardew, is embroiled in a similarly sorry situation to his predecessor, with the 55-year-old treading precariously on the managerial tightrope ahead of Saturday’s crucial clash against the Saints at Selhurst Park.

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Palace’s record against Pardew’s former club is poor. The south London outfit have scraped just one win from 14 Premier League duels; a whopping nine of which have ended with their heads bowed in defeat, including three of the last four encounters at Selhurst Park (includes a Championship loss).

Another defeat at home to Palace’s bogey team would almost certainly spell the end for Pardew - who has never lost seven straight games as a manager - whereas a draw may also prove to be damning.

Crystal Palace’s stats in 2016 make for risible reading:

• The worst team in the Premier League this year: 5W 7D 20L
• The worst points-per-game ratio in the top-4 tiers: 0.68
• 22 points from a possible 96 on offer.
• Lost 20 Premier league games.
• 61 goals conceded.

Palace’s confidence is at an all-time low following six successive top-flight defeats, while they’re without a league win since September, leaving the ailing capital club down in 17th - with only goal difference preventing them from dropping into the drop zone.

Last weekend Palace did so well to haul themselves back from 3-1 down to storm 4-3 ahead at fellow strugglers Swansea, before they inexplicably snatched defeat from the jaws of victory by shipping in two goals in injury time, leaving Pardew inconsolable.

Leaking five goals at the Liberty Stadium propelled Palace’s goals conceded tally to an unwanted 26 - only Hull have let in more (28) - while they’ve now leaked in an alarming 13 goals from set pieces.

Meanwhile, former England manager Sam Allardyce is the odds-on favourite to replace Pardew should he be sacked, whereas Wales boss Chris Coleman and former international managers Roy Hodgson and Jurgen Klinsmann also feature in the betting. Check out the latest odds here: Next Crystal Palace Manager Market.

In December 2014 #CPFC sacked Neil Warnock after a 3-1 defeat at home to #SaintsFC...could Alan Pardew suffer the same fate this weekend...? pic.twitter.com/H15GVTDb28

— The Sack Race (@thesackrace) December 1, 2016