In a shock move, Watford Football Club controversially sacked manager Nigel Pearson after The Hornets 3-1 defeat at West Ham United yesterday.

In a culling virtually no sportsbettors could have seen coming, a Premier League manager being sacked shortly before the penultimate fixture of the football league season would be surprising enough. But for Pearson to be given his marching orders with Watford balanced precariously above the relegation zone is incredible and has not been seen in the English Premier League for years.

Watford (15/2) face Manchester City (4/11) tonight at Vicarage Road, but while they might have been looking to get after a Citizens side beaten on the road in three of their last four Premier League games, as well as in the F.A. Cup semi-final at the weekend against Arsenal, instead they will be shell-shocked.

As you can probably imagine, the betting market for who will inherit one of the hottest managerial seats in English football (none of their last half-dozen managers have lasted more than 56 games) is wide open.