Leicester in plea for Nigel Pearson

Sunderland 0 Leicester 0: Leicester players are backing both Nigel Pearsons for manager of the year awards after the Foxes completed perhaps the greatest of all escapes. That’s one for the man we see in public, and another for the real Pearson.

The 51-year-old has been the focus of much unwanted scrutiny following reports of his on-off sacking at the start of the year, and his infamous ‘ostrich’ tirade at a bemused journalist. But Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel claims one of Pearson’s many strengths is his very different public and private personas.

“The manager has been immense,” claimed Schmeichel after Leicester sealed the point they required to stay up. Half of their 38-points have come in the last six weeks thanks to an improbable run of six victories and a draw in eight matches. “Nigel Pearson is the best manager I’ve played under and it’s difficult to put into words the job he’s done here.