Pearce determined to fight on

Stuart Pearce has pointed Manchester City's board in the direction of West Ham and Charlton as proof sacking managers in mid-season does not necessarily work.

Two years after succeeding Kevin Keegan as Blues boss, Pearce is under severe pressure after a run of four successive Barclays Premiership defeats - followed by an FA Cup quarter-final exit at Blackburn - left City staring at nothing more palatable than a battle to avoid relegation.

Speculation is rife City chairman John Wardle is on the brink of showing him the door, but Pearce said: "We all know in life sometimes the squeeze is going to be on you but you have to be nice and strong. I don't see too many massive uplifts in respect to one or two of the clubs who have changed their managers this year."

However, Pearce is not naive enough to believe his position is not a precarious one, particularly after the 7,000-strong City contingent turned against his team at Ewood Park on Sunday.

But, as you would expect from a man who showed such immense passion during his own playing career, Pearce is going to face his difficulties head on.

"If you expect Stuart Pearce to turn around and shrink away from it, put my head in the sand and go hiding somewhere, it won't happen," he said.

"I plan to be successful in my career as a manager. I do not plan to back away from things and hide when things are not going so well."

To that end, Pearce is urging the City support to get behind his players.

"The fans are a massive part of this football club," he said.

"They will be here long after the players and board have gone and the manager has been changed a million times. But the one thing they have to do is get behind the players."