Manchester City Football Club

• Nickname:Sky Blues
• Founded:1887
• Manager:Roberto Mancini

• Ground:City of Manchester Stadium
• Capacity:47805

Pearce: I deserved the flak

19 Mar 2007 - 13:15:04

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Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce has admitted that he deserved the criticism he was forced to endure during his side's recent barren run.

City finally eased their relegation concerns with a 2-0 win at Middlesbrough and lifted the pressure on Pearce.

The former England international was reported to be close to the sack after the tame FA Cup exit at Blackburn Rovers and admits he deserved all the abuse.

"You can't worry about a bit of flak coming your way," he told the Manchester Evening News.

"It's not as though I've been getting flak I haven't deserved because the results haven't been good enough. You just have to take it on the chin and learn from it.

"The results haven't been good enough, we know that, and it's important for us to get some victories between now and the end of the season.

"But I'm bored with telling people I've just carried on doing the job because I know what the job entails.

"There's not really a feeling that the win is one in the eye for those who may have been sharpening the knives.

"We were pleased to get a result and we deserved it. Now we have to build on it when we return to league football in two weeks' time.

"We've got nine matches left and the structure of the table has changed because of the win."