Leicester City's Championship return has been engulfed with misery so far.
Indeed, the experiment of Marti Cifuentes in the King Power Stadium dug-out didn't last very long. With a points deduction also now in play, Gary Rowett is in charge of the Foxes with a very real prospect of back-to-back relegations on the cards.
This horrid fate swallowed Luton Town whole, and the one-time FA Cup winners look likely to fall victim to the same dire freefall, with their last victory in the demanding second tier coming all the way back at the start of January.
Can Rowett pull off a great escape, still, despite the current doom and gloom making the King Power a depressing place to reside?
Only time will tell, but the very experienced EFL boss does have a respectable track record when it comes to pulling sleeping giants out of the mire.
Rowett's reputation as a firefighter manager
Rowett is often called up on speed dial when EFL clubs are plunged into crisis, as the 52-year-old is known to be a steadying influence.
Indeed, during his first stint with Birmingham City, he would guide the Blues away from relegation danger, as the 21st placed side when he took over, climbed the table all the way up to 10th, as a result of his miracle worker ways.
Moreover, just last season, he managed to steer a relegation-destined Oxford United away from the drop, when winning his first three games in charge.
The signs are there already, at Leicester, that the former Foxes midfielder, turned proud head coach, could potentially turn around this worrying sinking ship, with three draws picked up from his first four games in charge.
The last draw away at Ipswich Town was loaded with controversy, as referee John Busby had to be escorted off the pitch by a towering security presence.
But despite all the drama over the two penalties not being given to the aggrieved Tractor Boys, there was a visible fight on display that should stand Leicester in good stead as they try to avoid the expected drop in their last ten clashes of the season.
The victories need to desperately come soon, though, especially on their own turf, as Leicester are in grave danger of falling foul of a grim statistic against Bristol City.
Leicester must avoid this unwanted stat
The King Power has been a toxic home environment all season long for the forlorn Foxes.
Seven of Leicester's 15 league defeats this campaign have come on their own patch, and if Rowett cannot inspire his troops to their first home win of his new interim reign against the Robins, they will have lost their last five home games on the spin.
Leicester's last four home results in the league:
Date | Opponent | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
28th February | Norwich City | Championship | 2-0 L |
10th February | Southampton | Championship | 4-3 L |
31st January | Charlton Athletic | Championship | 2-0 L |
24th January | Oxford United | Championship | 2-1 L |
That would be the first ever time that has occurred outside the top-flight, with Gerhard Struber's away side no pushovers, either, as they still harbour dreams of reaching the playoffs.
Leicester would love to be that in golden position, instead, but financial mismanagement, and sorry performances throughout the campaign, mean they're stuck inside those dreaded relegation spaces.
Not all hope is lost, yet, as time is still on their side.
But, Rowett must turn around their fortunes sharpish, as the previous darlings of English football - who heroically lifted the Premier League in 2016 - could be playing the likes of Burton Albion and AFC Wimbledon next season, in the doldrums of League One, a decade on from those wild celebrations.