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Scott Parker v Slaven Bilic: Premier League sack race odds suggest Fulham v West Brom in straight shootout on Monday
Ahead of the weekend's fixtures, Scott Parker and Slaven Bilic are cut adrift in the Sack Race betting - Fulham and West Brom meet on Monday night.
During the international break I pinpointed Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder (25/1) and Slaven Bilic (11/1) as the value in the next Premier League manager to leave market. If you took the West Brom boss at that price, then you're sitting pretty.
Good luck finding much better than 2/1 now, with bookies struggling to split him and Fulham's Scott Parker when it comes to pricing the favourite, some going as short as 6/4 on the Baggies boss before the weekend.
Talk about timing when it comes to the fixture computer doing its thing.
What seems certain is that defeat for either manager at the Cottage will result in them going odds-on to be given the boot, which is why Michael Beardmore's tip on a low-scoring draw makes so much sense in this week's preview.
It's been a difficult start to life back in the top flight for this newly-promoted duo, with both winless after six fixtures.
Fulham's poor 2-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace last time out followed encouraging performances against Wolves and Sheffield United, and had the inevitable consequence of Parker jumping to the head of the Sack Race betting.
One point from six games only tells half the story, as the man currently occupying the Craven Cottage hotseat knows only too well. Parker is fully briefed on his bosses' impatience having inherited the job by default following the 2018/19 sackings of Slavisa Jokanovic and Claudio Ranieri.
Even with owners known for their revolving door policy, I'd be surprised if Parker was gone before the next international break arrives on November 9. Fulham's trip to West Ham could hand him one final chance to save his skin, but a shocking performance against West Brom could seal his fate.
Premier League Sack Race odds
- Slaven Bilic - 15/8
- Scott Parker - 9/4
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - 11/2
- Frank Lampard, Sean Dyche - 8/1
- Chris Wilder - 14/1
- David Moyes, Roy Hodgson, Steve Bruce - 20/1
Click here for the full current Sky Bet market
Odds correct at 18:00 GMT (30/10/20)
As for Bilic things seem to be improving on the pitch, with improved displays in successive draws, but off it he's got himself into a bit of a pickle.
Rarely does publicly criticising your employers end well, yet that's exactly what the Albion manager did when defender Ahmed Hegazi was sold on Monday "against assurances that had been given". The former West Ham and Croatia boss made an attempt at damage control during his pre-match press conference by claiming the fall-out was over.
“I want to close the chapter. I was very vocal and clear but for me, that story is finished,” he said.
“I wanted to say what I said publicly, I think it was needed, and I said the same to guys at the club – that was my opinion. For me, this is now chapter finished. I also said it when we came back to the training ground two days after the game (at Brighton) – I said it to the board and to the people at the club.
"For me, it is finished.”
Fulham v West Brom
- 17:30 GMT on Sky Sports Box Office
- Match odds: Home 7/5 | Draw 23/10 | Away 19/10
With all due respect Slaven, it's not really you letting it be finished that we're worried about.
I have no doubt that a first win of the season, and against a relegation rival, will help West Brom's billionaire owners forget all about what was said seven days prior, but another defeat could remind them of their chippy former defender's unwelcome public dissent.
All things considered though, it's Bilic who I'd currently side with over Parker when it comes to surviving the axe. It just feels like the Baggies are starting to get things going, while Fulham - who have two fewer points - simply look lost.
Albion's last match before the break is a home game with Tottenham.
A draw on Monday will undoubtedly buy time for both managers, but don't surprised if a point contributes to the match being their penultimate game in charge.
November's international break is Premier League manager graveyard.
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