Tony Pulis hopes West Ham's owners stick to their promise to back Gianfranco Zola after Stoke put the Italian under more pressure on Saturday.
Pulis' Stoke won 1-0 at Upton Park to move into the top half of the Premier League but add to the problems at West Ham, who have now lost six consecutive games.
Only goal difference now separates them from the relegation zone and Hull, who are level on points after beating Fulham, have a game in hand.
Zola reported that David Sullivan and David Gold had been supportive immediately after the game, but he did not cut the figure of a confident man and revealed he would consider his future overnight.
Pulis now hopes his opposite number is given the backing he has been promised.
"I have been very fortunate. Peter (Coates) is an exceptional chairman. He is at his best when things aren't going well," said Pulis of his situation at Stoke.
"The West Ham chairmen have said they will back Gianfranco and that is brilliant because he needs backing now. This is when you show your real colours and character.
"It is a very lonely job. It will be interesting to see what backing Gianfranco gets.
"What they need is a game where they don't play well but get a win and that will bring the confidence back."
Ricardo Fuller was selected on the bench after suffering food poisoning in the week but he made a swift impact at Upton Park, scoring a brilliant solo goal just two minutes after coming on.
Fuller turned Da Costa after bringing down a high ball on the left side of the box and cut past Parker and inside Upson before rifling his shot into the net.
"It was a fantastic goal. If Ric gets in that position he is so strong and his feet are so quick he can do that. It was a special goal," Pulis added
"If we can get to 40 points that is definitely safe. We finished 12th last year with 45 points. To beat that tally and reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup would be a really good season for us."
