Some may believe that Neil Warnock struggles to maintain a veneer of tranquility at the best of times but if the Sheffield United manager has been looking more fraught than usual recently, he has good reason.
United are currently experiencing 'Wolvesitis' a nasty, and rare complaint which causes inexplicable loss of form, confidence and nerve in players who had previously been treating Championship football as an activity only marginally more taxing than taking a nice hot bath with just a few scented candles for company.
The Blades have lost their edge, and in a big way. Warnock's side were 14 points clear of the chasing pack and hot on the heels of Reading nine days before Christmas; three months later, the Royals are a mere blue-and-white speck on the horizon while Leeds, incredibly, are within striking distance of their Yorkshire rivals. The gap stands at five points this morning but with United facing a taxing trip to Norwich, that could yet be trimmed, and Leeds still have a game in hand.
United's collapse has been as sudden as it was unexpected. Before the new year, Warnock appeared to have struck upon the perfect promotion concoction after five seasons of trying: there was experience in the form of David Unsworth and Craig Short; the youthful zest of Nick Montgomery and Danny Webber; and the undeniable class of Phil Jagielka and Michael Tonge.
Few betted against such a potent blend proving its worth over the course of the season but the wobble has been spectacular. One victory in seven matches is a poor return under any circumstances but what will most concern Warnock is that his stuttering side has come unstuck against Crewe, Queens Park Rangers and Plymouth in the last month, all of whom are firmly rooted in the bottom half of the table. It is one thing to leak points to promotion rivals, but quite another to do so against those at the wrong end of the table.
United's nerves are fraying, and not just on the field. Last week, the club felt compelled to issue a statement categorically denying that there was a dressing-room rift after rumours initially spread on website message boards and radio phone-ins began to gather pace. The gossip centred on Warnock's relationship with Unsworth, who has not started a first-team game since 6th February when he was sent off against Watford and was left out of the squad entirely for the trip to Coventry last weekend.
"Efforts to destablise United's promotion push through rumour mongering will prove irriting but futile," read a statement posted on the club's website. "Neil Warnock and the players are aware of certain stories circulating that suggest a lack of harmony within the camp, but are united in their condemnation of the mischief-makers.
"The antics may succeed in filling message boards, phone-ins and column inches with the result that genuine supporters may become concerned that squad harmony and purpose is being diverted. However, nothing is further from the truth. Our efforts are totally focussed on ending the bad run and finishing the job they started so strongly."
The chitchat may well be groundless but if United's form continues to slide, it will escalate. Negative press hovers over losing sides like smog and Warnock will have to work hard at rebuilding his beloved siege mentality if his side's self-belief is not to deflate entirely.