Pearson: Final would be greatest achievement

12 May 2010 11:02

Nigel Pearson reckons taking Leicester to the Coca-Cola Championship play-off final would put him on the brink of his greatest managerial achievement.

Pearson has been involved in coaching since finishing his playing career at Middlesbrough in 1998. The 46-year-old has been in charge of Carlisle and Southampton, with brief spells as caretaker manager at West Brom and Newcastle - twice - in between. Undoubtedly his finest hour to date was leading Leicester to the League One title, but he faces a tough task if he is to outshine his achivements of 12 months ago.

The Foxes travel to Cardiff tonight knowing they must overturn a 1-0 deficit in the Welsh capital after their defeat at the Walkers Stadium on Sunday. Pearson said: "Obviously winning the League One title last season was a high but this would be right up there if we could do it and finish the job now that we are in the play-offs.

"We were underdogs from the start and are even more so now heading to their place behind, so from that point of view getting to Wembley would be an achievement.

"Whether it would be the biggest achievement, well it depends how the play-offs finish and how successful we have been.

"But, obviously, if we were to get into the Premier League then that would be fantastic. But we aren`t looking that far."

A sell-out crowd will await the Foxes at the Cardiff City Stadium as the Bluebirds bid to finish the job they started three days ago.

But Cardiff manager Dave Jones is calling on the club's fans to create a cauldron of noise to help his players build on the advantage handed to them by Peter Whittingham`s solitary strike and book their place at Wembley.

"If the noise levels are as good as what they were against Swansea and the last time we played Leicester then it will be an absolutely superb atmosphere," he said.

"The whole occasion - night match, full house - I hope there is a big bang."

Source: PA