Pearce praises Bolton approach
Battling Bolton’s direct style has won them few friends among the Barclays Premiership elite but there will be no words of criticism winging their way to Sam Allardyce’s door from rival boss Stuart Pearce.
Allardyce has performed a minor miracle at the homespun Lancashire outfit by first establishing them in the top flight, then driving them into the top six.
Yet his achievements have attracted praise and sniping attacks in equal measure, with some critics blasting the Trotters for their long-ball game which, it is claimed, is nothing more than a throwback to the Wimbledon days.
The stereotypical assessment is one of the reasons why any talk of Allardyce replacing Sven-Goran Eriksson as England coach is generally met with scorn, even though his managerial record is equally as good as any other home-born candidate, including the Swede’s current number two Steve McClaren.
But Pearce refuses to join those who condemn Bolton even though he knows exactly what to expect when his team put their impressive 13-match unbeaten record on the line against their north-west neighbours at Eastlands tomorrow.
“I don’t see Bolton as a frustrating side to play against,” observed Pearce.
“I just see them as a side who use their strengths to play to the best of their ability, which is only what I ask my players to do.
“Why sit back and criticise a Bolton, a Wimbledon or whoever for playing a style of play that is successful for them.
“Bolton are not one of the Premiership’s bigger clubs but they are in Europe and back in the top six again this season, so they must be doing something right.”
Pearce got a taste of the treatment usually reserved for Allardyce last week when City picked up a precious point from their derby day trip to Old Trafford.
Alex Ferguson complained the visitors set up camp across their own penalty area in an effort to deny United space.
Ferguson’s reaction disappointed senior figures within the City establishment who felt their team thoroughly merited a share of the spoils, with victory only denied them by Edwin van der Sar’s superb last-gasp save from Andy Cole.
The result kept City in the top three and ensured if they avoid defeat tomorrow, they will equal a post-War club record of 14 games without a loss, a remarkable transformation from Bolton’s last visit in March when El Hadji Diouf gave Allardyce’s side victory in what proved to be Kevin Keegan’s last game in charge.
“Bolton will be facing a team that is a touch more confident than the one they encountered last time,” observed Pearce.
“There is a steely determination which allows us to fight back from difficult situations, as we did at Old Trafford.
“The players have shown they are prepared to scrap when things are not going right.”
With Bradley Wright-Phillips yet to recover from a minor knee injury, Pearce is expected to name an unchanged line-up, with Cole and Darius Vassell keeping fit-again Robbie Fowler on the bench.
Even though the pair only joined City in the summer, they have already formed an impressive partnership, netting three times between them to ensure the Blues maintained their impressive form from the end of last season.
And, while Pearce knows the unbeaten run must end at some point, he is anxious to stave off that day as long as possible.
“We have momentum at the moment but that will finish the day we get beaten,” he said.
“Then we will have to start again. That is when we will have to come out of the corner fighting. Our aim is to put off that day as long as possible.”
