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Are Roberto Mancini's days at Manchester City numbered already?

EXCLUSIVE   By Ian Ladyman Northern Football Correspondent

Last updated at 7:43 AM on 26th February 2010

Looking down: Roberto Mancini's only salvation would be a top-four finish this season

Roberto Mancini's tenure at Manchester City is coming under intense boardroom scrutiny for the first time after a dismal run of two wins in eight matches which has left the world's
richest club in danger of ending the season with nothing.

Sportsmail understands that there is increasing anxiety, with executives questioning for the first time whether they made the right choice when replacing Mark
Hughes with the enigmatic Italian at the end of last year.

City lost 3-1 after extra time at Stoke City on Wednesday to crash out of the FA Cup. That came on the back of an exciting but disappointing Carling Cup semi-final defeat by Manchester United at the end of last month.

The only challenge that remains is for Mancini's City to try to qualify for the Champions League. Such an achievement would undoubtedly secure
Mancini's future but anything else is increasingly likely to see him on
his way back to Italy after six months.

City's official line on Mancini - who has thought from the start that he would be on his way this summer if he did not finish in the top four - is that he
will remain in charge into the summer and beyond.

However, the official line on Hughes was that he would not be sacked, at least until a few days beforehand.

City executives are also disturbed by the mundane, unambitious football that has recently begun to characterise his reign.