Tony Mowbray will tomorrow stand on a small piece of Ayrshire soil and watch the destiny of his managerial future being played out in front of him.

The Active Nation Scottish Cup tie against Kilmarnock holds such danger for the Celtic manager that there is the merest suspicion he will head to Rugby Park in a tumbrel rather than the team bus.

This mounting pressure was met with both a defiance and a recklessness yesterday. “Do I worry? Why should I worry? Me worry about it? I have more concerns me, I’m only here to do a job and build a team. I don’t worry, I have my own worries in life. You’ve got the wrong guy.”

If this was meant to convey a calm before the media storm, it failed. The words were a gift to the headline writers and no consolation to his supporters. “I see your headlines,” he added in admonishment.

The words remain, in whatever size of type. In the increasingly tedious bouts between Mowbray and media, they have a devalued currency. Mowbray is now at the mercy of actions on a football pitch. Explanations for a disappointing season will be blown away by the fallout of any departure from the Scottish Cup short of the final.

Some football judges are already reaching for the black cap when appraising Mowbray. The Celtic manager, raw from the scourging from the press, has failed to make a sustained case both on and off the field. There have been glimmers of hope, hints of promise but they have not been nurtured by the momentum of a succession of victories. Out of two European competitions before Christmas, defeat in the Co-operative Insurance Cup and a 13-point deficit in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League is a formidable list of charges to be laid before a Celtic manager in early March.

The terseness of some Mowbray’s replies indicated that he knows the seriousness of the situation, whether he is worrying about it or not. The significance of the Scottish Cup for the club was the same this year as in every other year, he said. Is it Celtic’s only hope for a trophy? “It is one avenue for us to try to win.”

Was he aware that Lubomir Moravcik, the former Celtic midfielder, had said this week Mowbray would find it difficult to survive defeat at Kilmarnock? “That was nice of him. I have no comment on that. Thanks for letting me know.” Has he been given assurances on his future by the Celtic board? “No. Go away. It is a silly question.”

It is not, of course. The board must be assessing the situation. Their options are simple: the directors either back the manager or sack him. The indications are that they have gone far down the road of adopting the former strategy. This, however, does not mean they will not change direction if the wheels come off at Rugby Park.

There can be the pleas in mitigation. Mowbray has been unlucky, particularly with injury. Thomas Rogne, Jos Hooiveld, Glenn Loovens, Niall McGinn, Patrick McCourt and Shaun Maloney remain on the injured list, though Marc-Antoine Fortune may be ready for a return to action.

“We have lost some key players at key times,” said Mowbray when asked if he would have done anything differently. “We would probably have a bit more good fortune when things did not go our way.” This is inarguable.

“Look at the Old Firm games for a start. You spin them on their heads and there is nothing in this league. Look at some of the decisions and some of the fine margins in those games. Are we 13 points less of a team than Rangers in my mind?” Maybe not in the manager’s mind, but certainly in the league table.

“Look at the changes, which players have made it a less attractive football team? Who has not been successful? Are we moving in the right direction?” This is the crux of the matter. Celtic undoubtedly are better to watch, they are no harder to beat. The manager has to bolster the captivating colour of the first trait with the black-and-white of results.

His task was not easy. Mowbray took over a team that was overpraised and underperforming. The descent of Celtic from January 2009 was precipitous. He had to change the squad. The pertinent questions are: did he do it too quickly and has there been an improvement?

The short-term has been painful. But no-one can accuse Mowbray of hesitation. Only Aiden McGeady, Artur Boruc and Andreas Hinkel remain of the certain starters under Gordon Strachan. The departed are not mourned too deeply by Celtic fans but the replacements have still to earn a permanent place in their affections.

The fans watched Strachan’s side fail to score a single goal in the last two games of the season. Victory in both would have given Celtic the league title. Patience may be strained with the Mowbray. It had run out with the old regime.

“You do not have time to find your feet. You have to hit the ground running,” said Mowbray of his incomers. Celtic still have the aptitude for a stumble, however. This regular fallibility has not diminished Mowbray’s ambitions. “Are you telling me that the history of this football club is not to win with style and entertainment?” he asked yesterday. Yes, but supporters would settle for just winning.

“This football club knew when they employed a manager what they were getting. It’s not a secret the way I like to play football,” said Mowbray. “Yes, they want to win. Yes, I want to win – but I play a certain way, I do it a certain way. If we have to suffer not winning the league this year, if that’s going to be the case, then so be it.”

There is much to admire in the sheer obstinacy of this philosophy. There is much to admire, too, when watching Mowbray’s teams attack. But admiration will not save him.

Mowbray will be judged on results. The jury will retire to consider its verdict in the first instance at Rugby Park.