Pearson brushes off 'bonus game' defeat
Nigel Pearson refused to be downhearted after Leicester City suffered a 3-1 defeat at Manchester United in a match he described as a "bonus game".
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u7WayTr7snxPdQUMaJWce8-1000-80.jpg)
Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao fired United into a 2-0 lead, before a Wes Morgan own goal put the home side in complete control at the break.
Marcin Wasilewski headed a consolation goal for Leicester 10 minutes from the end, but Pearson, whose side remain bottom of the Premier League, insisted the result would be of limited importance come the end of the season.
"Games like this game today are, for us, bonus games," he explained. "Our season will be defined by how we play and the results we get against teams in and around us.
"We don't feel that we've given ourselves the best chances of getting something out of today because we didn't do enough with the ball.
"We performed better [in the second half]. We didn't really manage the ball well enough in the first half.
"They're a side with a lot of very good players and I thought they managed the ball very well today."
Pearson expressed a belief that Van Persie's opener should have been ruled out for offside, but was reluctant to dwell on the incident.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
"They are honest mistakes," he conceded. "Sometimes they go for you, sometimes they don't.
"It would be wrong of me to be spending too much time pointing out one decision in a game where we played against a side who played exceptionally well.
"It's unhelpful to have things go against you, but that's how it is."
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack