Football
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Leicester City have to earn fan support, says Nigel Pearson

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson has vowed to get the boo-boys back on side after Foxes fans recently showed the first signs of dissent.

Sunday's 2-1 FA Cup fifth-round defeat at Aston Villa sparked jeers and cries of "what a load of rubbish" as the patience shown by many of the supporters this season finally ran out.

With City rock-bottom of the Premier League and five points adrift of safety, Pearson rightly recognises the remaining 13 games "are all big for us now," starting with Sunday's trip to Everton.

But for the fans to remain with Pearson and the players over what will be one of the most testing times in the club's history, they have to be given something to shout about.

Determined that will be the case, Pearson said: "The fans are always entitled to their opinion. I'm not going to question the support we've had this season, it's been very, very good. But we have to go out there and make sure our performances warrant the support of those fans.

"We have to find ways of winning, and at the moment it's tough as we have had some decent performances. We've got to make sure here on in our performances allow us to win enough games, and that's really the bottom line.

"To do that we've got to find the answers, but I have a lot of belief in the players, their spirits are still high. "We have shown with some of our performances we are capable, but we have to turn some of those performances into results, there is no hiding from that.

"It remains a frustration, but that's how difficult it is to be a success at this level."

More than ever Pearson is demanding unity from his players if City are to haul themselves out of the relegation zone.

Pearson clearly feels the situation recently, where it appeared he had been sacked for a few hours only to be reinstated, highlights the fact togetherness throughout the entire club is crucial.

"I have to say I've been proud of the way players have responded to situations this season," added Pearson. "It's important we remain very much together, as we have all season.

"Occasionally, as we found recently, there have been instances where external disruption has tested the resolve of people at the football club. It can do one of two things -- it can bring you closer together, or it can push you further apart.

"But we've worked exceptionally hard, and the players have to take a lot of credit for the fact, we've stayed very much together. That is something we will need to continue doing here on in."

On-loan centre-back Robert Huth, cup-tied for the clash at Villa, is available.

Pearson is likely to pair Huth and Matthew Upson together for the first time with the latter now playing after recovering from a long-term injury.

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