Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish understands the intense pressure that exists in the Premiership.

He said: "Two or three bad results and you are prone to criticism.

"We just have to get on with that as it is a job where we are well paid and you know before you go into it what it's like. So, if you think you can't cope, don't go into it.

"The key is you just have to retain your sense of humour and dignity and Big Sam is handling it extremely well as I would expect.

"Nobody likes criticism, but I have been through it and it didn't kill me and I think when you go through it, it tends to make you stronger.

"We live in a knee-jerk blame society but us managers put ourselves under enough pressure without focusing on the external pressures."