Pearce hails hard-working Thatcher

Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce believes the return of bad boy Ben Thatcher has been one of the major factors behind the Blues’ recent revival.

Thatcher was forced to serve an eight-match ban earlier in the campaign for a disgraceful assault on Portsmouth’s Pedro Mendes, which enraged Harry Redknapp so much he called for the former Wales full-back to be drummed out of the game altogether.