Pearce cheers City before cup duel
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Article summary
Stuart Pearce has given Manchester City FC a lift before a vital FA Cup tie tonight by putting pen to paper on a two-year contract agreed last summer.
Article body
Manchester City FC manager Stuart Pearce has put pen to paper on the two-year contract he agreed with the Premiership club last summer.
England speculation
Pearce has been one of the names linked with the England manager's post, which Sven-Göran Eriksson will leave after the 2006 FIFA World Cup. However, the 43-year-old has committed to City after a successful first year in charge which has seen the team narrowly miss out on UEFA Cup qualification last season, while pushing for a top-six finish this time around.
Cup chance
City host Aston Villa FC in an FA Cup fifth-round replay tonight, with the winners going on to face either West Ham United FC or Bolton Wanderers FC, who play tomorrow, in the last eight next Monday. With two games against comparable opposition possibly standing between City and the semi-finals, Pearce is in upbeat mood. "We're at home, with the promise of another home match if we win," the former Nottingham Forest FC defender said. "You cannot ask for any more than a huge carrot like that to be dangled in front of you."