Leicester City are still right on course, says Nigel Pearson
Nigel Pearson has sounded a rallying cry that Leicester City are still right on track for promotion.
But City are under more pressure than at any time since they went top of League One in November.
-
City manager Nigel Pearson
They have taken only two points from their last three matches and have had their lead cut from 12 points to just two.
The latest setback was being pegged back for a 2-2 draw by Carlisle at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday.
Manager Pearson said: "Other sides are having better runs than us.
"But I still think we have a very good squad and I am very, very confident they will see the job through."
Nevertheless, there are bound to be some worries among the Blue Army.
City could hardly have chosen a worse time to lose form.
They held a 12-point lead following their 4-0 thrashing of Cheltenham on March 7.
But two draws and two defeats in their five subsequent games have allowed second-placed Peterborough to slice into that advantage.
And, just as disconcertingly, the next three teams in the table – Millwall, MK Dons and Leeds – all won on Saturday.
However, with only five games left, City are still in the driving seat and they have the bonus of a huge goal-difference advantage over their nearest rivals.
Pearson said: "We are still in a very good position and still up there to be shot at.
"We have been since day one of the season."
City's agony at Carlisle's stoppage-time equaliser was not helped by referee Michael Oliver not giving an apparent handball in the build-up.
Pearson said: "We had enough chances to win the game and we should have done."
The shoulder injury to Kerrea Gilbert right on half-time was another blow to City.
The full-back will be assessed over the next few days in the hope that he will be available for the two games in three days over Easter.
On a brighter note, City unveiled a new midfielder in on-loan Swedish youth international from Liverpool Astrit Ajdarevic.
The 18-year-old went on for the last 20 minutes and looked the part.
Pearson said: "It was a new experience for him and I thought he dealt with it very well.
"It is a big plus for us because he is a player who comes into the mix for the closing stages of the season.
"He gives us something different and he will have a big part to play in the run-in, I am sure."
20 Comments
View all
by Jagdev Singh, Leicester
Monday, April 06 2009, 2:47PM
“How hungry are Leicester City and their players to stay at number 1 until the end of the season and lift the league title which the fans deserve for there tremendous support both home and away all season long.
Nigel Pearson will learn a lot about his player¿s character and how well they deal with the remaining games including dealing with pressure and adapting their game. .
From now on until the end of the season City will have to raise their game against opposition that will be champing at the bit.
visiting teams to come to the Walkers as they have done all season and make it difficult for City to play and get a result.
City still have to play teams that are fighting to avoid relegation and achieve promotion via the play offs who will want to achieve maximum points to enable them to achieve there goals.
Other teams will see City's fixture as their cup final and make life difficult for the foxes.
Nigel Pearson has done wonders so far with his team.
I believe that if city had invested in quality players at Christmas and blending them into the team ready for the future this would have been a move in the right direction and would helped them avoid any late scares as far a promotion was concerned.
City have a lot of players on their books on loan and when the season ends players will go back to their clubs leaving Nigel Pearson to gel a team ready for next season which takes time and more importantly games.
Which ever league city find themselves in next season it has been well documented that they need a pair of decent strikers and midfielders complemented with a winger and most definitely a plan B to there playing side
I believe that City have underinvested in bringing players to a side that has shown ability and would have had a far greater points total in doing so.”
by Tom, Leicester
Monday, April 06 2009, 2:25PM
“And Dave when we actually do go up automatically, which we will do, please don't bother joing me and 20,000+ others celebrating, you just write more rubbish on here, probably along the lines of how we'll come straight back down next season.
We have wobbled, although i think if it was 3-1 to us at half time on Saturday that would have been fair, like J said, their keeper has probably never played so well.
So the REAL fans continue to get behind the boys, who will see us promoted i'm sure - E I E I E I O....”
by Carl, Leicester
Monday, April 06 2009, 1:58PM
“Simple Dave if you think Leicester are not worth the effort don't go.”
by Dave, Leicester
Monday, April 06 2009, 1:34PM
“At the rate we're playing we should be in the play offs and get a trip to wembley and after we've lost them we should all get £50 back off mandaric what an exciting finish and a chance to revisit all these grounds we've been to this season lovely.”
by John Wilson, Clifton, Ashbourne, Derbyshire
Monday, April 06 2009, 1:31PM
“Blimey! With all these faults it makes you wonder how we've got 83 points from 41 games. But I agree with the overall sentiment, notably from Carl and Ian. This is no time to be slagging the team or the management off. Let's get behind the team all the way, get out of this division and then (and only then) start thinking about another promotion push next season.”