Who is next for the Premier League sack?

Nigel Pearson seems under significant pressure at Leicester

The hectic festive programme is coming up and with several Premier League teams having poor runs, a sacking could be on the cards but who might be next?

After 14 games all 20 clubs have the same manager as they had in August but who is in line to be the first casualty of the season?

Tony Pulis left Crystal Palace just before the start of the campaign and was replaced by Neil Warnock a fortnight later but that is the only managerial change since June when Ronald Koeman was appointed Southampton boss.

Alan Irvine

The current favourite to be axed is Alan Irvine, who was only appointed as the ill-fated Pepe Mel's successor at West Brom in the summer.

It seemed an uninspired option at the time. Irvine's only previous managerial experience had come at Preston North End and Sheffield Wednesday and, at 56, he seemed to be the cheap option for Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace.

Albion do not tend to hang on to their managers for very long - since parting company with Gary Megson in 2004 they have had seven managers in the last decade - and dispensed with Steve Clarke's services almost exactly one year ago even though he had led the club to eighth in 2012/13.

The omens are not good for Irvine as The Hawthorns faithful turned against him during the defeat to West Ham which was the Baggies' fourth loss in a row.

If Saido Berahino isn't firing, Albion are in trouble - he has scored seven of their 14 Premier League goals so far this term - and with a patchy summer recruitment drive and mediocre campaign, the knives are sharpening for Irvine.

He called for unity and for everyone to stick together after the defeat to the Hammers. It only needs a vote of confidence from Peace and Irvine's days at The Hawthorns really could be numbered.

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Nigel Pearson

It is just over ten weeks since Leicester City beat Manchester United 5-3 and everyone was raving about the Foxes' brilliant start to the season following last term's promotion from the Championship.

City took eight points from their first five matches but it has been downhill ever since that incredible comeback victory against Louis van Gaal's men.

Two points out of a possible 27 have left Leicester rooted to the foot of the Premier League table and the pressure is mounting on Pearson, who insists that his side is playing better than their recent results suggest.

They did play well in patches against both QPR and Liverpool in the last few days but they ended up losing both matches and the feeling is beginning to grow that Pearson is a good Championship manager but not able to cut it in the top-flight.

Steve Bruce

Just over six months ago Steve Bruce was being hailed as a brilliant manager. He had taken Hull City to the FA Cup final and guided the club to safety in the Premier League.

Several high-profile signings in the summer, including Michael Dawson, Abel Hernandez and Mohamed Diame, appeared to have strengthened the Tigers squad, and when they secured back-to-back draws at Arsenal and Liverpool in October another mid-table campaign appeared to be on the cards.

Hull only lost two of their first nine Premier League matches but the situation soon changes and a run of four successive losses, which finally came to an end with the battling 1-1 draw at Everton, has left the Tigers with only two victories in their first 14 matches.

Their 3-0 defeat at Manchester United was one of the most one-sided games of the season and, if there are many more displays like that, Bruce's tenure at the KC Stadium could be coming to an end before Christmas.