Pearson's High Standards

That starts with a visit to Bolton on Tuesday night – a team that have lost just once in their previous 13 fixtures and who will be looking to end the season on a high note themselves. 

Ahead of the match, at which City could already have secured the league if Burnley fall to defeat at home to Wigan on Monday, Pearson said: “I think it’s important that we try to keep our standards high, and I think the players recognise the situation now that we want to try and get as many points as possible between now and the end of the season. 

“Our preparation will be as normal as possible. With three games to go, we’ve put ourselves into a very strong position, but we want to be as selfish as possible, and that is to try to pick up as many points as possible, so it doesn’t matter what happens elsewhere. 

“To win 28 league games in a season is a tremendous achievement, but we’ve got three games left and we want to try to improve that again. Our objectives are very selfish. We want to win the league and finish the season feeling good about our performances. 

“It really is very much the case of the next time that we play, I want the side to go out and perform well. 

“Whether that be an unchanged side or with a few changes, I think it is important that we go there with a positive mindset.” 

The opposition with be high on confidence themselves, however, as after a stuttering start to the campaign, Dougie Freedman’s side have surged up the league with a sensational recent run of form. 

In the previous meeting back in December, City emerged 5-3 winners, and the manager knows that they will be pushed close again against a side that boasts plenty of quality among their ranks. 

He said: “I think when you look at their season, the start that they had would have surprised most people, especially when you look at how positively they finished last season. 

“Their run towards the end of the last campaign as very good, and I would think that a lot of people would have thought they’d get off to a better start. 

“They’ve tightened up and bit and have some good players, so it’s no surprise to me that they’ve been able to get a good run together.”