Pearson Targets Winning Start

However Pearson, a former Boro player himself, knows it will be a difficult task at the Riverside Stadium against a team that many expect to be challenging for the play-offs themselves this season.

The bonus for City going into the tie is that last season’s top scorer David Nugent has successfully come through training and is now part of a healthy squad going into the opening weekend; welcome news for the boss.

He said: “It’s always nice to have different options and we go into this with a fully fit squad which is great.

“He (David Nugent) is always a dangerous player for opponents. He’s been a little bit disappointed to have missed little bits during pre-season but ultimately it’s about being ready for the start of the season and he’s come through training this week pretty well.” 

The manager wouldn’t be drawn on whether he was planning to employ the 3-5-2 system that has been a fixture of pre-season on Saturday, but did reveal that there has been plenty of homework done on the opposition ahead of the match.

“What we’ve seen of them in pre-season is that they seem to be playing pretty well,” said Pearson. “They’re always going to be well organised and we’re expecting a tough game.

“But we’re looking forward to it and we’ve prepared as well as we can. I think the players too are looking forward to getting the season up and running and it’s never an easy place to go but if we go about the game in the right way then we’ll have the right opportunities.”

On his tactical plans the manager added: “The players like it (3-5-2), that’s always a good indicator. It suits a number of our players but again it’s not a case of that’s the only way to go.

“We’re capable of using a number of formations, but ultimately it’s not formations that win you games, it’s players.

“This season the division remains an exceptionally difficult one to be successful in but I think we for large periods of last season did very well.

“I know the players are capable of competing at this level and we’re looking to have another good season.

“A good start always helps. We always want to get off to a winning start, whether it’s Boro away or somebody at home, we’ve got to be competitive and we’ll be looking to do that.”