Pearson: Time To Strike

Three consecutive wins in all competitions have helped the Foxes recover from a sticky spell just before Christmas, strengthening their momentum to compete for a place in the Premier League.

But they head to Bristol City on Saturday still three points behind Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace directly above them, five behind Hull City and 12 behind leaders Cardiff.

With 20 games of the season to go and three of the four of the sides above them still to play, the Foxes’ destiny remains very much in their own hands, but Pearson admits they will need to bridge the gap to prevent their rivals running away with it.

“We’re doing ok, but we need to make a move on the teams above us,” Pearson said ahead of Saturday’s trip to Ashton Gate.

“From here on in, every game will be very important, but, as the games become fewer and fewer, it’s important we do as much as we can to affect the sides above us.

“Automatic promotion is still our target, whether we can achieve that or not remains to be seen, but we need to put ourselves in a good position.

“Cardiff have done exceptionally well to create a big gap between themselves and third place particularly, but we have to make sure our own form is such that we put pressure on teams above us.”

Recent trips to Ashton Gate have not been particularly fruitful for the Foxes, whose recent record against Bristol City stands at just two wins in the last eight.

It is a sequence of results Pearson is eager to improve on, but the Foxes boss will not be underestimating a side struggling near the foot of the npower Championship table.

“It’s another potential banana skin in that it’s a game people will expect us to do well in, given the league positions of both sides,” Pearson said.

“But it’s not been too happy a place for us to go in recent years, so we’ll want to rectify that.

“We know that they are desperate to get results, certainly at home they’re a different proposition and they’ve been involved in games with plenty of goals.

“We have players that are playing pretty well, good competition in the squad and it’s important we go there with a positive mind-set and look to build on what we’ve done in the last couple of weeks.”