Despite a 4-0 win over Derby, boss Jol said: "I thought there were whispers last year - and there are whispers at any club all the time.

"I don't know if I'm being undermined. I don't think so but you never know.

"The only thing for me is that it was a bit early, you say early doors in England.

"As a foreigner you have to prove yourself because the top five clubs have foreign managers so that is not easy to take on the chin, you know. So I have to do better.

"People talked us up before the start of the season and that's why it took only four days to bring us down again.

"But I'm probably the same as six or seven other people out of 10. I can't f***ing take any criticism."

It seems only a top-four finish or silverware will save Jol from the sack this term.

But he added: "The board never told me personally that we have to break into the top four.

"If you are at Arsenal, Liverpool, how many players would they take from our team?

"If it is more than six or seven, we have to be fourth. But if it is only one or two, then fifth is over-achieving.

"If you see in five games against Arsenal we will probably have four draws. You could say we don't win, but we beat Chelsea last year.

"I am good at statistics. We had no back- to-back losses last year for the first time in 55 years. My record is good so leave me be."