Spurs hit rock bottom
Juande Ramos admitted he is starting to feel the pressure after Tottenham's miserable season hit a new low with a 2-1 defeat at Stoke.
Spurs boss Ramos cut a dispirited figure at the Britannia Stadium in the aftermath of another horror show, which condemned his club to their worst ever start to a season.
With six defeats from eight matches, Spurs are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League and are already in danger of being cast adrift.
It is a stunning state of affairs for a team regarded as potential challengers for a Champions League place in pre-season.
Now Ramos faces a desperate fight to save his job and the Spanish coach accepted the responsibility for Tottenham's slump started with him.
"I'm worried about the situation but last season we won the League Cup and everyone was very happy," Ramos said.
"At this moment everyone is very sad and I am worried about it as I don't like this situation.
"We need to work very hard to change this situation and only hard work can change it.
"This is my job and I am working very hard each day to finish this situation."
Ramos's day started badly when Gareth Bale conceded a penalty and was red-carded 17 minutes into the game.
Danny Higginbotham scored from the spot and although Darren Bent equalised, Rory Delap grabbed the winner before Michael Dawson was given a straight red card for a foot-up challenge.
Ramos added: "Sometimes football is difficult to explain. We had two penalties against us, two players sent off, some players injured.
"It was very difficult for us after the sending off in the first half but the attitude of the players was very good."
Spurs face Bolton, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City as their next four league opponents but Ramos said he was not concerned at facing the big teams.
Ramos insisted it was not his worst point in football, adding: "No - I have been in professional football for 20 years and have had very good experiences and very bad experiences.
"Against Hull and today I liked the team but sometimes it's difficult to play with 10 against 11.
"I think the penalty decision was okay but the Bale red card should have been a yellow card."
Stoke boss Tony Pulis was delighted to inflict more misery on Spurs as it boosted his own side's survival hopes, but he called on the Tottenham board to stick with Ramos.
"Let's see a bit of character by their board of directors and see them back him," he said.
"We are all in the same boat and know the rules, and have to accept it. I just hope the chairman who got rid of a very popular manager before, Martin Jol, now backs him and gives him a chance to turn it around.
"They certainly have good enough players and a good depth of squad."
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