Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce refused to criticise Robbie Fowler after the striker's late penalty miss cost his side a place in the Uefa Cup. "I have been there before. Robbie has been sensational for me. The day I came in I said it's a squad situation," he said after the draw with Middlesbrough.
"Credit to Middlesbrough, they came here and shut up shop. Steve McClaren is a good manager.
"That is probably the best the players have played for me."
Pearce said the decision to replace Claudio Reyna with goalkeeper Nicky Weaver late on so keeper David James could play as a striker had been pre-planned.
"On Saturday I thought about what would happen if the game was a draw with a few minutes to go," he said.
"At that stage we were going route one and I just thought, with his height, he could unsettle their defenders and I think he did."
Pearce said he was relishing the chance to take charge of City next season.
"I think the honeymoon period finished as soon as I got this job," he said.
"I have got a great deal of hard work to do here."
MMIX
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Match of the Day - Post-match interviews