Alvaro Arbeloa on the brink at Fulham with two games to save his job

Still winless after six league games, Arbeloa is under increasing pressure to turn things around and a failure to get results against newly-promoted Hull and Coventry in the next two games could spell the end of the Spaniard’s time in charge at Craven Cottage.

Just three months after replacing Marco Silva, the signs look ominous for Arbeloa, and his defiant attempts to stand up to the pressure on his job have done little to quell the outside noise.

Speaking after Fulham’s stoppage-time defeat at Portman Road, where they led until the 88th minute, Arbeloa insisted he was not worried about getting the sack, though admitted his side must start picking up more points.

"I never worry about my position," Arbeloa said. "I don't feel fear. You cannot be a coach if you feel it. You have to work, take the decision, and you need to show confidence to your players.

"For me, I am so happy with many things that they are doing. I know it is not easy for them.

"It's not about my position, it is about Fulham’s position. That is the most important thing. Obviously it is just six games, but it is true we need points."

Fulham headed into the three-week international break with momentum after credible draws against Liverpool and Manchester United left Arbeloa with cause for optimism.

The extended break appears to have done them no favours, though, and their defeat by Ipswich raised familiar concerns as they yet again conceded late to squander all three points.

Fulham have conceded in the final 15 minutes in four of their six league matches so far this term, and Arbeloa’s substitutions have drawn criticism, with the former Real Madrid boss neglecting to bring on any fresh defenders as they looked to see out a win against Ipswich.

With a squad built in his image and an expansive but defensively vulnerable style of play, the responsibility for Fulham’s issues this season falls almost exclusively on Arbeloa.

The 43-year-old has been backed heavily by the club’s ownership, which could buy him time. But it seems increasingly that Arbeloa has tried to change too much too soon after five years of solidity under Silva.