Albion to hold talks over Alan Irvine's future

The Baggies hierarchy is expected to meet before the New Year's Day trip to West Ham to consider Irvine's position after yesterday's visit to Stoke brought a seventh defeat in nine games.

But Irvine, who is under intense pressure after just four wins from 19 Premier League games, insisted he can still turn the team around despite fans turning on him again at the Britannia Stadium during yesterday's 2-0 defeat.

"I believe that I am capable and I think that the players believe that we all are as well," said Irvine. "But obviously other people will make decisions as far as that is concerned.

"I want to carry on, I still want to do this job and I want to still do this job and I want to see it turning around. That's not going to change."

But, asked whether his job was safe, Irvine again admitted: "I am not in control of that, I don't know so I can't answer that question but I certainly hope so."

Baggies fans again sang "you don't know what you're doing" when Irvine replaced Stephane Sessegnon and James Morrison in the second half.

And a large number of travelling supporters joined in when Stoke fans sang "You're getting sacked in the morning."

Irvine, who saw his side beaten by a Mame Diouf brace, added: "Sessegnon has a bit of a calf problem that is on-going and has done extremely well to play through games.

"People should know I respect and like him as a player.

"James has been nursing a knee injury. I brought on a centre-forward that everybody has been raving about all season (Saido Berahino) and a wide player who has been doing well for us of late (Silvestre Varela). Varela didn't start because it was a big ask for him, people don't know the circumstances."