Alan Curbishley says standing in the media firing line is "part and parcel" of life as a Premier League manager - however, he admits he has sympathy with the "pilloring" received by Avram Grant, the Chelsea manager.

Grant has been subjected to a turbulent week at Stamford Bridge, being jeered off the pitch following the 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic on Monday night, before giving a mono-syllabic post-match press conference after his team's 1-0 victory over Everton last night.

Victory moved Chelsea to within two points of Manchester United,having played a game more, and Curbishley, who has also been on the end of some less than positive press during a difficult season, says it all goes with the territory.

"Avram Grant did take a bit of a pilloring this week, because Wigan equalised in the final minute and they were not supposed to, which apparently has not kept the title race alive," Curbishley said, "but we all know there are targets, and then it all moves off to someone else. This season, Martin Jol took a bit, then Sam Allardyce, so it all moves along.

"As managers, we all know it is part and parcel. However, some of it can get out of hand and become a bit personal, perhaps stories are fabricated and printed.

"But you can't keep defending everything you read, and it is unfortunately a part of the game which nobody enjoys. Maybe Avram has just decided that the best way is for him not to say too much."

Curbishley added: "If it [criticism] is justified, then I am quite fair minded on it. But when things are continually dragged up and only loaded one way - like with us and our spending of £45million, which forgets what we took in, £22million, to balance the books somewhat and that we have not spent as much as others around us - it just does get a bit wearing."