Sabri Lamouchi finds himself in a perilous position after Bristol City heaped further misery on the Nottingham Forest head coach.
The statistics tell a sorry story, if not the whole picture.
Five straight defeats this season, one goal, a run of 11 games without a win stretching back to last term’s meltdown.
It was a better performance from the Reds at the City Ground, albeit after a woeful start which had left them two goals down, but whether it will be enough to keep Lamouchi in a job remains to be seen.
Forest correspondent Sarah Clapson looks at some of the big talking points from Saturday’s 2-1 reverse, and ahead of Monday's international transfer window deadline.
On the brink
There was a long inquest immediately after the final whistle. It was almost an hour before Lamouchi emerged to conduct his post-match media duties.
It had left some debating whether he would appear at all. There are a number of fans who think he shouldn’t have.
There’s certainly an element of doubt over whether the Frenchman will still be the man fielding questions come the trip to Blackburn Rovers in a fortnight’s time, though.
Lamouchi made it clear he doesn’t want to go anywhere; that he believes he can turn this form around.
But he cut a frustrated figure; his exasperation evident with the odd swear word which punctuated his answers.
Show of support?
To stick or twist is a huge call for the board to make. There's not necessarily an easy answer.
They’ve backed Lamouchi with a procession of new signings and a change in backroom staff. Change, and there’s always the possibility a new man wants his own players in.
With the international transfer window closing on Monday and a domestic-only one to follow, he wouldn’t have long to try to put his own stamp on the squad.
That’s what Lamouchi has done - for the most part, this is now very much his team.
How much time he is given to work with it, however, is the big question.
On the second half alone, you’d think he still has the backing of the dressing room - you’d at least expect that to be the case, given he brought in a lot of those players.
After a disastrous start, when they were all at sea, Forest did mount a response against the Robins.
It didn’t feel like a sacking performance.
The bigger picture, however, suggests there is still every chance it might be.
Transfer business
This squad is unquestionably stronger than it was last term.
The Reds made clear their intent with some impressive recruits. The likes of Lyle Taylor, Scott McKenna, Luke Freeman and Harry Arter will not have been short of offers.
But 12 signings - 13 with the expected arrival of Cafu - is some overhaul. Particularly for a team which only narrowly missed out on the play-offs.
And Lamouchi faces the problem of getting them all to gel. It’s proving difficult.
This new-look side currently lacks the cohesion and team spirit which served Forest so well last season.
It’s debatable whether changing the man in the dugout would solve that.
More to come
The Reds are still not finished in the transfer market - although the focus will be on departures, rather than arrivals before both windows close.
There are several players not part of the first-team set-up who are free to move on - and that is unlikely to alter even should there be a change of manager.
Michael Hefele, Yohan Benalouane, Zach Clough and Gaetan Bong have been out of the picture. Finding moves for players lacking game time, though, is easier said than done.
There is also doubt over the futures of defenders Yuri Ribeiro and Tobias Figueiredo, while one of Carl Jenkinson and Tendayi Darikwa could also head elsewhere, to cut the number of right-backs on the books.
Central midfielder Cafu is still expected at the City Ground, as part of a swap deal which took Tiago Silva to Olympiacos.
And Lamouchi would still like a winger, to strengthen an area in which he remains a bit short, despite all the incomings.
That aside, though, he thinks this squad is “enough”.
It was also worth noting the manager's frustration at the departure of Silva; the Portuguese having asked to leave, in a decision which "surprised" Lamouchi.
Green shoots?
There’s not a great deal to be positive about on the back of five successive defeats. But the second half on Saturday did at least show this team can have something about them, if/when it clicks.
Were it not for some brilliant goalkeeping from Daniel Bentley, they would have got something from the game.
A fabulous strike from Luke Freeman had given them a lifeline - and it was certainly a fine way to score Forest’s first goal of the campaign. They were so nearly able to make the most of it.
Meanwhile, there was a good debut from Nicholas Ioannou, at left-back. The Cypriot looks to have a decent left foot on him, putting in some tasty crosses.
And Alex Mighten did not let himself down on his first league start.
There were signs there. The question remains, however, whether that will be enough to save Lamouchi.
Either way, a big week or two ahead.
