Having talked ahead of the Swansea game about a different type of pressure on the players having now given ourselves a real chance of avoiding the drop manager Nigel Pearson has been delighted to see how they’ve relished and rose to the challenge of that pressure and secured another fantastic victory over Swansea to lift us level on points with Hull City in 17th place.
Pearson’s Swansea Audio (click here)
A first half strike from Leo Ulloa topped off by an Andy King goal in the last minute of regular time gave us the three points and moved us two points clear of bottom spot – with a game in hand on those below us – but the telling success was drawing joint level with Hull who sit outside the dropzone.
Speaking to lcfc.com following the match Pearson’s praise was mostly centred around the mental strength of the players once again responding to a pressure situation at this late stage of the campaign.
‘It`s been a difficult season for us in many respects, but to achieve three wins on the spin at this stage with the amount of pressure that is on us is very commendable. Again the atmosphere was very, very good. There`s always going to be nerves, whether that`s from the fans, the players or myself. We have to just try and keep our eye very much on what we`re doing at the moment rather than looking at what`s gone on before and I think today the players handled it very well.’
Having lost David Nugent to injury in the warm up Pearson can probably be forgiven for thinking it might be one of those days again, but with Leo being the replacement maybe it was written.
‘Tactically it was a very difficult game to get through. We started with a 3-5-2 and got ourselves in front. Swansea have played with a diamond in midfield for eight or nine games now, so for us to force them to change illustrates how well we were playing. Of course they changed to the formation that most people would recognise Swansea as playing, and that`s a 4-3-3, hence our decision to change to 4-4-2 in the second half.’
Pearson went on to say that pleasingly and ‘for the most part’ he felt the performance represented what we got out of the day and he knows this season he hasn’t really been able to say that often enough – hence why we’ve been bottom since November but with a belief that things would click, he couldn’t be more pleased to see it clicking now right at the death of the campaign as survival is now again clearly in our own hands – but with enough games left for a hiccup or two we’re bound to have them!
Ending he also commented on his delight at another clean sheet as well, especially against a side like Swansea who continue to impress people with their style this season.
Vital Leicester on:
Vital Leicester on:
