It looks likely the club will be deposed as champions.
But Khaldoon al Mubarak will need to be convinced the club have made progress in the 2012-13 campaign if he is to extend Mancini's City tenure into a fifth season.
And losing the title is hardly "progress".
And there was friction in Manchester City dressing room at St Mary's as Mancini accused players of shirking responsibility after defeat to Southampton
The City chairman is extremely unlikely to feel there is any point in sacking Mancini mid-season, despite 6-4 odds on that outcome after Saturday's dismal 3-1 defeat at Southampton.