We can do better, says Leicester City boss

Leicester City are only out of the Championship play-off places on goal difference – but manager Nigel Pearson is still experiencing a feeling of under-achievement.

City were in eighth place and one of six clubs on 16 points going into last night's fixtures, but Pearson admitted: "We are probably about three or four points short of where we would like to be, or could have been."

Tuesday night's win at Middlesbrough was City's first victory on the road, at the fifth attempt, but they had opportunities to bag all three points in drawn games at Watford, Sheffield United and Ipswich.

City also lost at Newcastle and have dropped home points to Peterborough and Preston and Pearson said: "It is an illustration of how competitive this league is and how unpredictable it is.

"We know that we have to be at our best every time we play because it is a step up for us."

Pearson says his squad are also having to cope with additional pressures to the physical demands of playing at the next level up after lifting the League One title last season.

"I think the psychological pressure as well as the physical pressure at this level is different from last season for us," he said. "The games are quicker and you really need a squad ethic to see you through."

Pearson made five changes to his starting line-up for the Boro clash with Steve Howard, Dany N'Guessan and Robbie Neilson dropping to the bench, while Aleksandar Tunchev and Richie Wellens were ruled out with injury and illness respectively.

He said: "We made a few changes and some were forced, but it is important to freshen up and we can't go into any game and not be prepared to be resilient when it is needed.

"It is a difficult league and, technically, we have played some good sides already. I think Preston were a very good example of a very accomplished Championship side and they have the know-how to win.

"We know we can compete and over 46 games it will be a big test for us, but I don't see any reason for us not to set high targets and expect ourselves to be in the promotion shake-up.

"Whether we can be in it or not is another thing, but I think it is important to be at our best every time."

City's win at the Riverside prompted home fans to turn on manager Gareth Southgate, but the criticism angered Pearson, who skippered Boro to two promotion campaigns during a five-year stay in the north-east.

He said: "I hate hearing all that and I don't like it. I think what is important here is that it is a difficult time.

"Boro had been in the Premier League for 10 years and before that they were a bit of a yo-yo club, so to bounce back from relegation is never easy.

"The expectation on the three clubs that have come down (Boro, Newcastle and West Brom) is there week in and week out, but there is no doubt in my mind that all three will be in the promotion shake-up.

"Whether we were fortunate (at Boro) is up to others to decide, but what matters to me is that I got the response I was looking for from my players and we got a very hard-earned win."