West Bromwich Albion defender Sebastien Pocognoli has jumped to the defence of under-fire manager Alan Irvine, claiming that things have improved on the pitch compared to 12 months ago.

The Baggies head into their hectic festive fixture list sitting two points above the Premier League drop zone having won just one of their last seven games.

Despite this, Pocognoli insists that Irvine is not showing any signs of feeling the heat ahead of Manchester City's visit to The Hawthorns on Boxing Day.

"I don't think he is feeling pressure," he is quoted as saying by the Birmingham Mail. "I think he is just concentrating on the next game. For sure, like everybody in the club, he will have disappointment from the QPR game but we had a good performance and a good win against Villa, a good point at Hull City.

"The next game is tough against Manchester City but we have to be there fighting. But QPR isn't really what we can do. We will keep working and fight together – that's the most important.

"The coach does a good job. If you look at how we play, it's good football and I hear it's better than last year's but we lost because of small things."

Pocognoli made the move to West Brom from Hannover during the summer transfer window.