It's incredible how just a few wins can lift the profile of any manager.

Three or four weeks ago, Alan Pardew at Newcastle United was strong odds-on to be the next manager to lose his job.

When I looked at the latest betting, he was 25/1.

So what has happened in the last few matches to make such a difference?

He got a scruffy 1-0 win against Leicester and then, with a hugely-improved performance at Tottenham, came from behind to pick up all three points.

Now, this week, he puts out quite a strong side – including a few youngsters – and wins at Manchester City in the Capital One Cup and, suddenly, Pardew looks like a world beater.

It just shows the fine margins which exist in how you are judged.

For any manager, when you are on a good run you are only 90 minutes from it all coming to an end and, on the flip side of the coin, when you are down in the doldrums you are only 90 minutes from turning it around.

A few weeks ago, Manchester City were looking outstanding. Sergio Aguero scored all four goals in their home win against Tottenham and everything was rosy.

Even at half time at CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, they were 2-0 up and cruising.

That’s when they came out for the second half and had mentally switched off.

And that lack of professionalism has probably not only cost them the win in Moscow, but also the defeats to West Ham in the Premier League and Newcastle in the Capital One Cup which have followed.

Out of all the squads in the top flight, this is where Jose Mourinho at Chelsea has the advantage – they have mental strength.

In the 2004-05 season, Mourinho’s first at Stamford Bridge, they scored first in matches 28 times and dropped only two points in those games.

The following season, they got the first goal 27 times and dropped only four points in those matches.

Those are amazing statistics to illustrate their mental strength and, even this week, you see Didier Drogba playing at Shrewsbury in the Capital One Cup and he is running around like a 16-year-old.

Every time one of his teammates messed up, Drogba was there with an arm around the shoulder and giving them encouragement.

He is a great example of what you want from an older pro.

It’s the older pros who run dressing rooms. You get good ones with high standards and everything flows beneath them.

If you get those with the wrong approach, then the dressing room doesn’t grow in their presence.

Chelsea are now 2/5 to win the Premier League title.

After nine games that’s quite incredible, but who can argue with the market?