Could an exit from the FA Cup on Sunday at the Ethiad mean curtains for the losing boss.

Neil Warnock and Roberto Mancini go head-to-head on Sunday and defeat could mean more than nothing else to play for this season.

Both managers have recently come under fire due to their respective stuttering league campaigns and despite their defiance, could it be a case of they pick up their P45's after the final whistle.

Warnock came under fire during Tuesday night's defeat at Middlesbrough, he appeared to mock supporters urging him to make a substition by sarcastically hand-clapping them. The fans mood turned even uglier when Leeds fell to a late goal by Curtis Main, with many chanting "Warnock time to go" at the final whistle.

The Leeds boss was due to meet the clubs directors today (Friday) and although the subject of Leeds now being eight points adrift of the playoffs is likely to crop up in the conversation, it appears that Roberto Mancini is more vulnerable than the 64-year-old who typically turned on the charm offensive in respect of his critics by acknowledging the "suffering" Leeds fans have endured down the years.

Mancini was less than complimentary towards his own critics, including former England defender Danny Mills who played for both clubs and predicts it will be ciao should Leeds pull off a shock win. The Italian said his detractors "do not understand football".

Another player who had a foot in both camps, winger David White however thinks Mancini's job will be safe, for now, as he predicted an easy 3-0 or 3-1 win for the City club he supported as a boy. White, looking twice the size these days as he was when he made 42 appearances for Leeds scoring nine times between 93/95 was pictured in today's Daily Mail at his family scrap-yard business with the amous old trophy.

Photo: Action Images

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