Tim Walter's stay of execution at Hull City must spark upturn in fortunes

Tim Walter is staying at Hull City for now, at least. The Tigers head coach has been backed by owner Acun Ilicali and will be in charge for Sunday's visit of West Brom to the MKM Stadium.

Against a backdrop of significant anger from supporters after last Saturday's dismal 1-1 draw with Portsmouth, Walter's relationship with City supporters hit the depths on Tuesday when he was heckled throughout the second half of the 1-0 loss against Oxford United amid calls for him to be sacked.

That hasn't happened yet, and while the Championship can be unpredictable, especially going into the final international break of the calendar year, which is often peak sacking time for nervous club owners with the pivotal Christmas period and then the January transfer window just around the corner, Ilicali remains determined to see Walter turn things around.

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And that turnaround must start tomorrow with the visit of the Baggies, who themselves are on a run of fairly uninspiring form, albeit they hauled themselves back into the top six on Thursday with a bore draw against Burnley. That was their sixth straight draw in a row leading to more frustration from their supporters.

While Walter has come under heavy fire in recent days, much of it deserved for the quality of football on show and run of poor results, the German boss hasn't had it easy since arriving at the MKM Stadium. He will tackle Albion with two of his biggest attacking threats absent.

Liam Millar is out for the season, at least, after damaging his cruciate knee ligaments against Burnley, and his fellow summer signing, Mohamed Belloumi suffered a similar fate at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday evening and will now be out for a lengthy period of time.

So, Walter will need to call upon other members of his squad to step up and play their part. Ryan Longman is back and will be on the bench; Abu Kamara is rated as touch-and-go, but the likes of Abdus Omur, Kasey Palmer, Mason Burstow and youngster Will Jarvis must now step up to the mark and drag City forward.

It's easy to feel some sympathy for Walter, but ultimately, he's paid an awful lot of money to make the big decisions and overcome the problems that every manager faces throughout a nine-month campaign.

City goes into the weekend only outside the bottom three on goal difference, and by the time they kick off against the Baggies, they could be in it, depending on how other results play out and having already occupied time in the drop zone this season, they can ill-afford to do it again.

Results have to improve, of course, though prior to the Oxford defeat, City had led in games against Burnley, Derby County and Portsmouth before falling apart and allowing their opposition to claim a point. That shows there is promise and capability in that squad, but it must now find a way to start winning matches.

Walter's future depends on it. Ilicali may back his manager. He may be determined to keep him in place having put his neck firmly on the line to appoint him in the summer. But if results and the overall performances - not just decent 15/20 minute spells - don't improve, then the axe will have to fall if City are to avoid being dragged into a relegation scrap as the winter months take hold.