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Do late sackings ever work in the Premier League?

By Simeon Gholam

Wednesday 9 March 2016 15:57, UK

Newcastle boss Steve McClaren is under pressure
Image: Newcastle boss Steve McClaren is under pressure

Throughout Premier League history, clubs have attempted a late roll of the dice to try to secure their survival.

With Steve McClaren under pressure at relegation-threatened Newcastle, we look at whether sacking your manager at this stage of the season ever works.

Here are examples of when clubs have axed their bosses with fewer than 10 games to play - and whether they managed to stay up...

Sunderland - 2014/15

Manager departed/appointed: Gus Poyet/Dick Advocaat

How many games left?: 9

Did they stay up?: Yes

Sunderland sacked Gus Poyet with nine games to go last season
Image: Sunderland sacked Gus Poyet with nine games to go last season

Gus Poyet was dismissed by Sunderland with nine games to go last season. The Black Cats were one point and one place above the relegation zone when he departed to be replaced by Dick Advocaat.

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The Dutchman lost his first game in charge, but three wins and three draws followed in their run-in as they ended the season in 16th, three points clear of the drop.

Dick Advocaat came in and kept Sunderland up
Image: Dick Advocaat came in and kept Sunderland up

Norwich - 2013/14

Manager departed/appointed: Chris Hughton/Neil Adams

How many games left?: 5

Did they stay up?: No

Norwich dismissed Chris Hughton with five games to play in 2013/14
Image: Norwich dismissed Chris Hughton with five games to play in 2013/14

Norwich City sacked Chris Hughton with five games left of the season, replacing him with Neil Adams with the club in 17th but five points clear of the drop zone. 

However, the move proved a disaster as Norwich only managed a single point during the rest of the campaign, finishing 18th and getting relegated.

Neil Adams failed win any of the games and the Canaries went down
Image: Neil Adams failed win any of the games and the Canaries went down

Reading - 2012/13

Manager departed/appointed: Brian McDermott/Nigel Adkins 

How many games left?: 9

Did they stay up?: No 

Reading sacked Brian McDemott in 2013 with nine games to play
Image: Reading sacked Brian McDemott in 2013 with nine games to play

Reading sacked Brian McDermott with nine games left to play in 2012/13, with the club in 19th and four points adrift of safety.

After the Royals lost another game, Nigel Adkins came in with seven to play, but the man who had been sacked by Southampton earlier in the season only recorded one win and two draws as Reading finished 19th, 11 points off 17th. 

Nigel Adkins was appointed but Reading were still relegated
Image: Nigel Adkins was appointed but Reading were still relegated

Sunderland - 2012/13

Manager departed/appointed: Martin O'Neill/Paolo Di Canio

How many games left?: 7 

Did they stay up?: Yes

Sunderland dismissed Martin O'Neill with seven games to play in 2012/13
Image: Sunderland dismissed Martin O'Neill with seven games to play in 2012/13

Sunderland sacked Martin O'Neil with seven games to play in 2012/13. 

They were one point above the relegation zone when Paolo Di Canio arrived, and two wins, two draws and three defeats followed as Sunderland survived in 17th - three points clear of relegation.

Paolo Di Canio was fired and he kept the Black Cats up
Image: Paolo Di Canio was fired and he kept the Black Cats up

Hull City - 2009/10

Manager departed/appointed: Phil Brown/Iain Dowie

How many games left?: 9

Did they stay up?: No

Hull City sacked Phil Brown with nine games to play in 2009/10
Image: Hull City sacked Phil Brown with nine games to play in 2009/10

In 2010, Phil Brown was sacked by Hull City with nine games left of the season and the club sat second-bottom of the Premier League, three points adrift of safety. 

However, Brown's replacement Iain Dowie could only inspire the team to one win and three draws from their remaining fixtures, and Hull went down in 19th, five points from 17th.

But Iain Dowie failed to keep them in the Premier League
Image: But Iain Dowie failed to keep them in the Premier League

Newcastle - 2008/09

Manager departed/appointed: Joe Kinnear/Alan Shearer

How many games left?: 8

Did they stay up?: No

Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear was forced to leave his position for health reasons in 2008/09
Image: Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear was forced to leave his position for health reasons in 2008/09

Club legend Alan Shearer was brought in with eight games remaining to save Newcastle in 2008/09, with the club two points adrift of safety in the bottom three after boss Joe Kinnear suffered from health problems and could no longer lead the first team.

Shearer brought in Dowie as his assistant, but only won one game and drew two more as Newcastle ended the season in 18th - being relegated by a point.

Alan Shearer (right) came in with eight games to go but he couldn't secure safety
Image: Alan Shearer (right) came in with eight games to go but he couldn't secure safety

Fulham - 2006/07

Manager departed/appointed: Chris Coleman/Lawrie Sanchez

How many games left?: 5

Did they stay up?: Yes

Fulham sacked Chris Coleman in 2006/07 with five games to play
Image: Fulham sacked Chris Coleman in 2006/07 with five games to play

Fulham took the surprise decision to sack Chris Coleman with the club four points above the drop zone in 2006/07.

Lawrie Sanchez kept the Cottagers in the Premier League with one win from their final five games, ending the season in 16th, just a point off relegation.

Lawrie Sanchez won just one of their final five games but they still stayed up
Image: Lawrie Sanchez won just one of their final five games but they still stayed up

Sunderland - 2005/06

Manager departed/appointed: Mick McCarthy/Kevin Ball

How many games left?: 10

Did they stay up?: No

Mick McCarthy was sacked by Sunderland in 2006 with the club rooted to the bottom
Image: Mick McCarthy was sacked by Sunderland in 2006 with the club rooted to the bottom

Sunderland were bottom of the league with just 10 points - 16 from safety - when they parted company with boss Mick McCarthy with 10 games to spare in 2005/06.

Kevin Ball took charge for the rest of the season but, unsurprisingly, couldn't keep them up as they were relegated with five games to spare. Eventually they finished on just 15 points, with three wins all season.

Kevin Ball came in but the club still went down
Image: Kevin Ball came in but the club still went down

Portsmouth - 2004/05

Manager departed/appointed: Velimir Zajec/Alain Perrin

How many games left?: 7

Did they stay up?: Yes

Velimir Zajec was replaced by Alain Perrin after a poor run with Portsmouth in 2004/05
Image: Velimir Zajec was replaced by Alain Perrin after a poor run with Portsmouth in 2004/05

Portsmouth appointed Alain Perrin with seven games to spare of 2004/05 with the club just two places and four points above the relegation zone.

He replaced Velimir Zajec - who had led the club to a run of just one win in 10 games before reverting back to his directorial role at Fratton Park - and Perrin steered Pompey to two wins and two draws in their final seven games as they finished the season six points clear of the drop.

Frenchman Perrin came in and helped secure their safety with seven games to play
Image: Frenchman Perrin came in and helped secure their safety with seven games to play

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