STUART Pearce believes Bolton Wanderers are genuine Champions League contenders but has not ruled out his own side pressing for European honours as the two sides prepare to clash for the second time in just three weeks.
The Blues boss will be hoping City do not produce the kind of sloppy first-half display in the return that cost them a 2-0 home defeat before Christmas but he is cheered for the trip to the Reebok by recent form - particularly away from home.
Since Nicolas Anelka sank his old team with a first-half brace at Sportcity, Pearce's side have recorded three straight Premiership wins to haul themselves out of trouble at the foot of the table and into the top ten and that is where they now aim to stay.
Classic
"We have produced a couple of classic away performances in as much that we defended well and resolutely and then took our chance when it came to scoring," said Pearce.
"We are looking forward to the rematch with Bolton because we know that we can play a lot better and we go there with much more confidence about our game and probably a touch mentally stronger too. We hope to use this game as a springboard.
"Bolton's consistency makes them contenders in the top six whilst we are fighting at both ends in a sense. We are not entirely clear of the bottom but we are not too many points behind the European places either.
"What is clear is that we have to find some more consistency, the kind of which we have shown in the last few games and prepare ourselves for four months worth of games that are both physically and mentally draining."
City will be without striker Paul Dickov at the Reebok amidst fears that he will need an operation on a floating bone in his foot.
A specialist will look at the injury on Monday.
The departure of Ben Thatcher to Charlton for é500,000 and Claudio Reyna back to his native United States has left the Blues thin on experience but Pearce has been boosted this week by the return to training of internationals Jihai Sun and Didi Hamann.
Surprise
Neither is expected to start at the Bolton, though Tunisian Hatem Trabelsi may yet make a surprise appearance after limping out of the FA Cup stalemate at Sheffield Wednesday with tight hamstrings.
"Hatem has been in the treatment room all week but we hope he will join in with training today," reported the manager.
The Blues, who took 6,000 fans with them to Sheffield Wednesday for the FA Cup, will be less well backed at the Reebok as some supporters stay away in protest at the é36 admission price - é9 more than Wanderers fans were asked to pay for the reverse fixture.
Instead of the usual 2,800 seats, City have taken only 1,800 tickets this time.
"The numbers we took to Sheffield were phenomenal and not many clubs would have matched that," reckoned Pearce. "Supporters don't have a bottomless pit."
Whatever his private views on the ticket pricing for City fans at away grounds, Pearce is happy to publicly discuss Wanderers' rise towards the top of the table.
"People who think they get by on aggression and a long ball game or bleat about Bolton's tactics are way wide of the mark," he said. "There is so much more to their game than that."
Do you think City will pick up any points at Bolton? Have your say.
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Oh No, not the dreaded Euro assault story!
Every time SP mentions Europe we lose the next 3. Why cant the guy keep his mouth shut. Yeserday he was blabbing that we would be interested in Beckham, 5 minutes before he signed a 128million deal. Button it Pearce.
O MY DEAR OSCAR
PoD - There you go again! All Pearce actually said that he would be interested in having Beckham in his side. That is not the same as saying he would sign him, as you are inferring. I should bet that 19 Premiership managers would have fancied Beckham in their side, but he was never going to come back to England.
SQUAD TOO THIN!!
we were thin before and needed 2 players now just got rind of 2 (Reyna & Thatcher) so need at least 4 in???
Thats our winning streak ended.................
i h8 bolton , rubbish fans and a small town club that thinks they are a bigclub.we will screw them over on saturday and i hope anelka gets a leg snapped, bolton fans are the worst in the land.
I see the signing of Abdoun rocked the world. Don't think he's going to be a first teamer by the sounds of it. Sky and sportinglife don't even rank it as a signing.
Come On Lads!! Support, Support, Support!! Lets go crazy tommorrow. 3 points for sure. Come On City!!! Pints, City and 3 points.. Is there anything better?
the way we have been active in the transfer market its a wonder we will have any players left to complete the season, although saying that the ones that have gone werent that good anyways!!!
Err... blabbing on about signing Beckham? Or - a journalist maybe asked him "So, would you like to have Beckham", and SP pretty much said "Yeah, all things considered, he's a top notch player. Not a chance in hell though, but yes, he's a good player". Then that obviously gets turned into a 'story'. It's hardly Pearce comming out and saying we've put an offer in, is it? Anyway, 0-0 for Bolton, and I'll be happy with a point there.
SP's weekly diary reminder came out then? Check oppostion, praise their manager & team to the press. Consider praising an opposition player and then watch him perform well against us a la Anelka. Check league position, if near relegation zone say it is a bit more exciting down there, if near european places talk about qualifying. Remember to say the word cuter a few times and contradict the politburo message ie we had to sell SW-P and there are no funds in the kitty all we can afford are loan signings. If feeling brave say that the Chairman should delve deep in his pockets to buy players. If feeling braver pick players to play in the positions they know.
Noooooo!!!
I have to agree why does Sp have to Mention Europe as soon as we win a match. We usually go on and lose the next two games. We need to be taking it one game at a time, what is the point in us trying to Qualify for Europe as are Squad is far too thin!
pearce has to say these things if you dont look to push on the you might as well pack up.We all know this side is just not good enough to qualify for europe,as for 2moros game the best we can hope for is a draw but im a realist city will get beat,2-0 again im afraid!
Yes folks, yet again this man gives us the European Kiss of Death. He really should get the sequence right - engage brain - operate mouth.
couldn't be bothered to read this article, but i'll stick my neck out and plump for it being the usual dross about a push for europe which, as on every previous occasion, will herald a run of consecutive defeats and stick us back in the relegation zone where we belong. BTW, anyone seen any sign of the mythical takeover recently? No, thought not.
Why does he go on the euro rant again ,Well thats the next few games up in smoke,Please SP KEEP IT SHUT, Just go to Bolton and put on a performance worthy of the support if we get a result so be it, on Europe belt up, Please
Leave it out you miserable gets!? If we`re on the money, there is definately potential for 3 points at Bolton. Start with Vass` pace and Corradis` general battling and aerial ability. Midfield will have to work their socks off and play well in possession, but we`ve got it in us. I fully support Pearcey and believe he`s doing a capable job in not the best supported environment? Defensively, we have bags of ability around the club, and SP influence continues to grow. I`m also watching with great interest for developments in the left back position. Just my opinion, but i`d like to see us go for Konchesky? SP can improve his defending and the lad supports the forward play, and has enough pace. Good age and Curbs doesn`t fancy him. Anyway, back to Bolton, 2-1 City. Micah to score first from a set piece, Gorgeous off the bench with a banger Quit daydreaming about Europe, and just keep winning the next game. Come on City
Pearce - beat Bolton and Black burn and maybe , maybe I may start believing it's possible.. ..until then shut it..and that goes for the squad as well
Perhaps he's talking about Dunkirk?
When will he learn?OK, we've won three on the trot,something
not many of us would've dared
to predict.But please Mr. Pearce
without somebody in the side who can put the ball in the net on a regular basis,the clubs main ambition must surely be survival.A couple of bad results (something which this team is quite capable of)is all it would take to have us hovering over the trapdoor again.Whilst I feel relatively optimistic at the moment,the fact remains that the team as it stands,with the current personnel is going knowhere.CTID
Bolton have downgraded us this year from an A* fixture to an A grade match. This apparently makes the ticket £3 cheaper, however they have put the £3 on the price of a junior ticket. Bunch of robbing barstools.
Sorry wythenshawecity fan, much as I hope City win to want any player's leg to be snapped is sick. I hope most of the City fans will join me in dissociating themselves from this comment.
The only mention of a Euro assault is the headline. SP correctly states that we're not yet clear of relegation but also a few points off challenging for Europe but need to show more consistency. A fair summation with a ludicrously inappropriate headline given the nature of his comments.