Pearce hails hard-working Thatcher
Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce believes the return of bad boy Ben Thatcher has been one of the major factors behind the Blues’ recent revival.
Thatcher was forced to serve an eight-match ban earlier in the campaign for a disgraceful assault on Portsmouth’s Pedro Mendes, which enraged Harry Redknapp so much he called for the former Wales full-back to be drummed out of the game altogether.
Although the Football Association was never going to hit the 31-year-old with such a draconian punishment, there were many who felt Thatcher had played his last game for City.
Instead, the former Tottenham man got his head down in training, kept himself fit and, as Pearce’s side struggled for consistency, returned to senior action in the win over Middlesbrough at the end of October.
He has retained his place ever since, contributing to a run that has seen the Eastlands outfit pick up 10 points from their last six matches and will see them close to within three points of third-placed Arsenal if they overcome relegation-threatened Watford on home soil this evening.
“I have been really impressed with Ben Thatcher,” admitted Pearce.
