Bilic on borrowed time as boss of West Ham

Slaven Bilic is not in imminent danger of losing his job as manager of West Ham, despite the disastrous 5-0 FA Cup defeat by Manchester City, reports the London Evening Standard.

The manner of the mauling by City at the London Stadium on Friday — and the subsequent comments by West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan and vice-chairman Karren Brady — increased speculation that Bilic had the next two matches to save his job.

Sullivan, on the official club website, wrote: "We know we have to improve quickly and upcoming fixtures against Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough now become cup finals."

Brady, meanwhile, tweeted: "We know we have to improve, Palace and Boro are now vital games."

A West Ham source today, however, said that the club "hope and expect him to be our manager for the next 18 months as we proudly like to honour contracts".