"McCarthy should go," vehemently insisted Sunderland fan number one on the train just approaching York station on Saturday.

"And who would come in and do a better job on similar resources? He's had no money to spend," said fan number two defending his manager.

And so the conversation raged until the 8:58 GNER train from Newcastle reached its final destination at London Kings Cross.

The pair discussed a wide array of diverse and idiosyncratic topics in their cold railway carriage but their love and passion of the Black Cats ensured their trip to the capital remained heated.

Polls in the local press and TV, McCarthy's dismissal, the chairman's (Bob Murray) removal and reluctance to back his manager publicly or with money, the contrasting fortunes of their North-East rivals, the halcyon days of Peter Reid and the fans unquestionable loyalty dominated the proceedings.

Their story is probably no different to thousands of other fans who make the long-treks to follow their club away from home. But at the end of the journey no conclusion was settled upon.

Given football is a results driven business then it is remarkable McCarthy is still in charge.

If he was at any other club then there would be no option but to dispense with his services.

Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd parted company with Graeme Souness last week, Hartlepool chief Ken Hodcroft is currently considering Martin Scott's future and Steve McClaren's tenure at Boro is under scrutiny .

But Sunderland aren't any other club and their circumstances can't be compared to those of their Tyneside or Teesside cousins.

Souness spent nearly £38m on players last summer; whereas McCarthy was given little over £4m to keep his side in the top-flight, less than any other Premiership club.

And to rub salt in even further, Saturday's opponents West Ham, who only joined the Premier League via a play-off final victory, last week spent £7m on striker Dean Ashton from Norwich. Ashton opened the Hammers' account on Saturday.

Some argue the former Republic of Ireland boss has squandered the club's money on non-goalscoring forwards but where else can you buy a 20-goal a season striker for £4m?

When asked whether he felt under any more pressure after Saturday's defeat at West Ham and, taking into consideration the Souness dismissal, speculation surrounding McClaren and the suspension of Scott, the Black Cats boss said: "It might happen (the sack) at some stage. But I'm going home to spend time with my wife and kids and I will be in next week to do the best I possibly can and I won't lose any sleep over that.

"I get annoyed about results and losing if we play badly but I actually think I'm good at it (managing). I'm just having a bad time of it at the moment."

McCarthy also refuted suggestions he might be cursed.

"I know there isn't a jinx on me. I did really well at Millwall for a spell, I did really well in the Irish job where I got to the last 16 of the World Cup, I got to the semi-final of the play-offs and I won the Championship last year.

"I've had a particularly good time. But at this time I'm having a bad time.

"I keep reminding people about Paul Jewell, who is top man at the moment. He got relegated with Bradford, lost his job at Sheffield Wednesday; went to Wigan and, at his own admission was within a hair's breadth of being thrown out of there until Dave Whelan came in.

"It might turn out that we're not good enough but I'm not going to start complaining. But don't worry, I'll come good again. I can do this job."

McCarthy's job wasn't made any easier by Stephen Wright's 22nd minute dismissal.

Wright was wanting in terms of match fitness - culminating in him being sent off for two bookable offences -and left the Wearsiders up against it.

It was Wright's first appearance since the season's curtain raiser against Charlton at the Stadium of Light.

McCarthy also brought back George McCartney, for his first game since May last year, and Christian Bassila in favour of out-of-form Tommy Miller and Justin Hoyte, who both failed to make the 16.

Despite the early setback Sunderland displayed a remarkable resilience and West Ham rarely threatened to break down a determined back line marshalled by skipper Gary Breen, Steve Caldwell and McCartney, who looked like he had never been away.

Kevin Kyle had three great opportunities to put the Wearsiders ahead before the Hammers finally breached Kelvin Davis' goal.

The 24-year-old striker admirably ploughed a lone furrow following Wright's dismissal as McCarthy sacrificed his striker partner Anthony Le Tallec for Nyron Nosworthy.

His first opportunity came after only ten minutes when Le Tallec flicked on, but Kyle's left foot shot from the edge of the 18 yard box was comfortably saved by Shaka Hislop.

His second chance came just after the hour when the big Scot played a delightful first-time ball down the right for Liam Lawrence. But when the winger picked out the unmarked striker just inside the box, Kyle found row Z in the stand.

The Scottish international's best chance, however, came when he tamely headed into Hislop's midriff from close range from a Lawrence free-kick with 70 minutes on the clock.

Sunderland survived a scare 15 minutes from time when substitute Marlon Harewood slotted home after Davis had saved from a suspiciously offside looking Dean Ashton. TV replays revealed the referee's assistant had got it wrong.

The Black Cats weren't as lucky six minutes later, however, when Harewood found space on the right, and his subsequent shot was palmed into the path of the on-coming Ashton, who made no mistake from close range to mark his Upton Park debut with a goal.

West Ham doubled their lead four minutes later when Paul Konchesky fired speculatively from 20 yards - an effort Davis should have saved.

Although McCarthy won't admit Sunderland are relegated until it is mathematically impossible, he did reveal Murray, John Fickling, Peter Walker and himself have met to discuss plans for next season's campaign.

This is probably the closest the Yorkshireman will come to a vote of confidence. It would be ultimately futile, however, if McCarthy's chairman and board of directors did not learn from this season's mistakes and make the necessary funds available to strengthen his squad with some real quality instead of asking McCarthy to look in the bargain bin.

Result: West Ham United 2, Sunderland 0.