Under-fire Saints boss Nigel Adkins has the full support of the Saints squad according to captain Adam Lallana.

Adkins’ has found himself under pressure in recent weeks as the club have struggled for results in the Premier League after back-to-back promotions.

Saints travel to West Brom tonight but Lallana, who scored his first senior goal against the Baggies at The Hawthorns in 2007, insists the team are firmly behind their manager.

“It comes and goes, speculation,” he said.

“Whatever team is in the bottom three their manager will be under pressure, or at least the media will think that.

"There has been speculation since the start of the season about who was going to be the manager and ifs and buts, as a player you just get on with it and do as best as you can, not just for yourself and the team but for the manager as well.

"He (Adkins) got back-to-back promotions so has got to be given great credit for what he has done already and we all respect that."

The 24-year-old Lallana made his debut for Southampton under George Burley in 2006.

When Burley departed in January 2008 the club went through another six managers, including caretaker bosses, until Adkins was appointed just over two years ago.

When asked what it was like to lose a manager Lallana said: "It is not too nice when it happens.

"At the minute and hopefully for the foreseeable future Nigel is the boss and I hope it stays that way."

Lallana, who was called into the senior England squad for the first time ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Ukraine in September, is relishing being the skipper of the side - even during such trying times.

"I just take it in my stride really, it is my first season of being captain and I don't really know what to expect," he said.

"We have had a tough start but I'm just trying to embrace it really because there aren't many 24-year-olds who are captain of a Premier League team and I just want to enjoy every minute of it."

Lallana scored his first Premier League goal as Saints were beaten 4-1 at West Ham two weeks ago and he reckons the captaincy has had a positive effect.

"Maybe I have had to grow up a bit quicker and be a bit more mature if you like," he said.

"Being captain you have got to be a role model for not only for the young players but for all of your team-mates.

"I feel we have got quite a few experienced lads in the dressing room and they help me out as well, it hasn't changed me in any way but I'm really proud to be the captain and to have been given that responsibility by the manager."

The former England Under-21 international has been a cornerstone of the success at St Mary's over the past couple of seasons and admits the atmosphere has altered since the wins have become more sporadic.

"It is obviously different because we are not winning games consistently which is what we were doing two years ago," he said.

"We are just focusing on the basics and as we all know back-to-back wins or a win and a good away performance can change the form around and people will be talking about other things."

Lallana has been impressed with the start West Brom have made to the season under new head coach Steve Clarke and believes the Baggies can feel aggrieved they are not higher than eighth in the table.

"They have been in the Premier League now for three or four years, I remember playing them before they got promoted," said Lallana.

"I'm not surprised at all, they have got a new manager and have started the season well and were quite unfortunate to lose against Man City due to a stoppage time goal.

"They did well away at Newcastle and conceded in the final few minutes again so they are probably looking at it and thinking they could be even higher in the league."