Match verdict: What will Leicester City boss Pearson do to stop the rot?

Nigel Pearson is facing the biggest test of his managerial skills at Leicester City.

Saturday's home loss to Sheffield Wednesday was their fourth defeat in their last seven games, and Pearson's men have picked up just five points from a possible 21.

How quickly the picture has changed. As City headed to Peterborough at the start of last month, they were second in the Championship and it looked as though they were ready to kick on and really challenge for an automatic promotion spot.

Following Saturday's defeat, they now look as though they have a fight on their hands to stay in the play-offs.

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It is the worst run of results Pearson has experienced in either tenure as City boss, and alarmingly the confidence appears to be draining out of some his players.

There is no question that this is as talented a squad as Pearson has put together in his entire managerial career, but it is arguable that it is not as mentally tough, and certainly not as experienced, as the side he took to the play-offs in 2010.

That side was certainly not capable of playing the scintillating football City have produced regularly this season, and during their excellent run in January.

Individuals such as Anthony Knockaert, Ben Marshall and Harry Kane have undoubted talent, but they are finding it hard to reproduce it consistently, and Pearson admits confidence is becoming an issue.

The average age of the side that faced Wednesday was 23, and while age is often not necessarily an accurate indication of experience, it is notable that five of City's starting 11 have yet to make 100 career appearances (Ritchie De Laet, Danny Drinkwater, Michael Keane, Jeff Schlupp and Kane).

However, Andy King, who is still only 24, made his 200th start for City on Saturday.

For many of them, they are not only experiencing the rigours of a full Championship season for the first time, they are doing so while under the immense weight of expectation and pressure that surrounds City.

Is it a coincidence that they have struggled against sides fighting for their lives, such as Posh, Ipswich and now Wednesday?

Pearson now has to put a giant wing around his players and give them the belief to play without fear, because when they have done that this season they have looked like the side they are capable of becoming.

What certainly will not help is losing both his full-backs to injury.

Paul Konchesky's experience was a big loss on Saturday and he is likely to miss the next two games, and the full extent of Ritchie De Laet's injury is yet to be revealed, but it did not look good for the Belgian when he was stretchered off with his right leg in a splint.

Konchesky and De Laet have provided the attacking width this season, as only Lloyd Dyer is an out-and-out winger who stays on the touchline.

Marshall, Knockaert and now Kane, who looks uncomfortable in midfield instead of in attack, all like to drift into midfield.

But it is not just tactically that Pearson will be tested. Above all else, his man-management and psychological ability will be key in getting his young side back on track.