Pearce steals Bolton blueprint
STUART Pearce wants Manchester City to follow Bolton's example and add some much-needed "stickability" to their game.
After a shocking run of 10 defeats in their last 11 away games, City head to Everton tomorrow with Pearce promising revolutionary action.
The Blues boss is expected to utilise Joey Barton, plus new arrivals Ousmane Dabo and Dietmar Hamann, at the heart of a five-man midfield in an attempt to make his side more durable.
With Bernardo Corradi the more obvious choice to operate up front on his own, the move could cost Georgios Samaras and Ishmael Miller their starting spots despite stand-out performances against West Ham last weekend.
But, as well as a change in tactics, Pearce also wants a change in attitude and is pointing north up the M61 for an example of how it should be done.
"We need to find more stickability when matches start to ebb away from us," he said.
"Bolton had it at Portsmouth on Monday, which is why they got a win. On balance of play, Portsmouth deserved something out of the game but Bolton's keeper made saves when required, the forwards chased back and the defenders did well in their own half.
"We need to look at that and do something similar."
Pearce disputes the theory his side are suffering psychologically from their repeated failures away from Eastlands, even though they have yet to concede a goal on home territory this term.
However, he does recognise it is time for a change in approach, which is why he looks certain to alter a winning team.
"We have lost three away games in the league already this season," he said.
"Now we need to win one and I might have to tinker with the players and the formation to achieve it.
"This is the first time I will have had Dabo, Hamann and Barton available together and the significance of that will be evident tomorrow."