Pearce: Blame me, not the players

Stuart Pearce vowed to continue soaking up the bulk of the criticism after his Manchester City players crashed out of the Carling Cup at the hands of Coca-Cola League One hosts Chesterfield.

The Barclays Premiership strugglers took the lead in their second round clash at Saltergate but went on to lose 2-1. Although there appears no immediate likelihood of Pearce losing his job, the former England captain knows he must start getting victories sooner rather than later.

"The first one who takes the flak is me," he said. "When I walk away, I am the one who should take the criticism, not the players. They gave me everything on the pitch but as you would expect they are bitterly disappointed."

He added: "I feel as though we are working hard but we need to work a little bit harder to try and instil some confidence in the side."

Greece international Georgios Samaras gave Stuart Pearce's full-strength side a 40th-minute lead, following up after Bernardo Corradi headed against a post.

But Caleb Folan's 47th-minute header dampened City spirits early in the second half and the visitors' miserable season continued when Derek Niven put the League One side in front courtesy of a fierce 20-yard volley.