Pilgrims boss praises Leicester counterpart
PILGRIMS manager Paul Sturrock has heaped praise on his Leicester City counterpart Nigel Pearson ahead of today's Championship clash at the Walkers Stadium.
Pearson has made a real name for himself at Leicester, following a spell in charge of Southampton in which he managed to rescue the South Coast club from relegation to League One on the final day of the 2007-08 season.
Ironically, Pearson's first game in charge of Southampton was a 2-0 defeat against Argyle.
And bizarrely, he kept Southampton up at the expense of Leicester City – a club he became manager of on June 20, 2008.
"He has done very, very well," said Sturrock of Pearson's time in charge at the Walkers Stadium.
"The Southampton job was a difficult post for him and I'm sure he has learnt a lot from that whole scenario.
"But he has got in at Leicester and he has managed to put a settled team together.
"They are very hard working and a very tough team to play against."
While Sturrock has lauded Pearson and his work at Leicester, the latter has acclaimed Argyle's recent upsurge in form, which has them unbeaten in three matches.
In their last seven games, the Pilgrims have recorded four wins, one draw and suffered just two defeats.
"Plymouth have had a difficult start to the season," said Pearson.
"When you have a bad start, you have to play catch-up most of the season, so they have done very well to steady the ship.
"Their form of late has been good, they have changed their system of play a little bit.
"In the past they have been a real passing side, but I think they have simplified things and got results doing that."
Despite Argyle currently sitting fourth from bottom in the Championship, Pearson is expecting a difficult test for his sixth-placed Leicester side.
"It will be a tough game as always," said Pearson.
"Expectations are always changing. We look at it as another tough fixture.
"We always have to be at our best to win games in this league.
"We have to give them due respect, but we will expect ourselves to go out there and get the right result."
4 Comments
by mark, nz
Saturday, November 21 2009, 9:51AM
“Yep, pop on a plane two days ago to get to Leicester today. Then pop back home. Some 28,000 km round trip. Would make that Insurance advert moaning about Newcastle away seem a bit lame!
Ray couldn't do it carbon footprint and all that.”
by Filbert The Fox, Saltash
Saturday, November 21 2009, 9:29AM
“is it really worth you traveling 300 miles to end up in tears when you see our wicked stadium compared to Moan park. BLUE ARMY”
by Ray, Plymouth, England
Saturday, November 21 2009, 8:33AM
“Question for Mark in NZ, How many Argyle games have you seen this season to make such a statement?
I suggest you make the long trip from New Zealand, you might change your mind as Argyle have not soley used 'Hoofball' in any of the home games that i have seen this year. But as a New Zealander whose national side relied on 'hoofball' tactics to get to the World cup you would understand the impact Fallon can bring to the table when during the game route one is used!!!”
by mark, NZ
Saturday, November 21 2009, 7:12AM
“"In the past they have been a real passing side (Holloway), but I think they have simplified things (Sturrock's Hoofball) and got results doing that."
Perceptive person that Nigel Pearson”