Pearson tips Gallagher for big role

14 February 2010 09:58
The 25-year-old Scot hit three goals on Saturday as the Foxes remained sixth in the Championship to celebrate the third anniversary of Milan Mandaric's takeover of the club in style.[LNB]It was the first time City had scored five goals since their move to the Walkers Stadium in 2002. It was also the Foxes' biggest win since they beat Sunderland 5-2 at Filbert Street in March 2000 when Stan Collymore scored three goals and Emile Heskey two.[LNB]Pearson said: "Paul Gallagher has had a bit of criticism so it's good for him to be able to walk off with the match ball.[LNB]"He will be a player who will be important for this club for the next few years."[LNB]Pearson remained downbeat about the emphatic win.[LNB]He added: "This is a tough league and that's why I'm not going to get carried away by a good win and I'm not going to get too down when we lose."[LNB]But he was pleased the Foxes remain on course for a play-off berth, saying: "We are in a decent position at the moment but whether we remain there we will have to see.[LNB]"At some stage we may drop out of the top six, but our main aim is to be in the play-off shake-up at the end of the season."[LNB]Michael Morrison scored Leicester's first when he headed home Martyn Waghorn's inswinging corner in the sixth minute.[LNB]And Leicester doubled their lead on 16 minutes when Matt Oakley and Lloyd Dyer combined to set up Gallagher who scored with an 18-yard shot which deflected off Scunthorpe defender Marcus Williams.[LNB]Leicester put the game beyond the visitors with a third goal on 25 minutes when Gallagher curled a 28-yard free-kick around the defensive wall and inside Scunthorpe keeper Joe Murphy's far post.[LNB]And it was four for Leicester on 34 minutes when a half-cleared Gallagher cross fell to Waghorn who had time to control the ball before lashing it home from 10 yards.[LNB]Scunthorpe pulled a goal back on 55 minutes when Sam Togwell helped on Paul Hayes' goalbound shot.[LNB]Gallagher scored his third and Leicester's fifth on 75 minutes when from a deep ball by Richie Wellens he looped a clever back-header over the advancing keeper.[LNB]Scunthorpe manager Nigel Adkins explained why he made no changes to his side at half-time when they were 4-0 down.[LNB]He said: "In the first half we got a real mauling. I decided to keep the same 11 on the pitch because I knew it would hurt them and wanted to make sure that they never wanted to have that feeling again.[LNB]"I didn't want to give anyone the easy option of coming off at half time and hiding away.[LNB]"I want this to be a wake-up call for the players. I know the result has hurt them but I now hope we can go on to better things."[LNB]And Adkins admitted he had been pained by his side's sorry performance.[LNB]He said: "It's not nice to have to stand on the sidelines and watch your team perform like that.[LNB]"But you take the plaudits when things go right and then you have to take the stick when things don't go your way."[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk