Look at this story and try and deny that it is about time and has been a long time coming. Also do you think that Sven would have ever been capable of being tough like this? Nigel Pearson has provided a much-needed firm hand to his Leicester City squad, according to captain Matt Mills. Pearson has already shown his authority by slapping defender Sean St Ledger on the transfer list after he was unhappy with the player's response to being left out for the Boxing Day game against Ipswich Town. The City manager has not been afraid to drop big-name players if he felt they were not performing. Mills said Pearson's strong approach was just what City needed, and that the club were heading in the right direction under his leadership. "The manager has brought a firm hand to this group of players, which was needed," said Mills. "I think under his leadership we are certainly going in the right direction. "You can see in the way he holds himself he is a leader. The way he does his pre-match talks, he is a winner. "It is nice to work for someone like that." Pearson was a respected captain and centre-back during his playing career, and Mills said he was learning a lot from his new boss. "Our relationship is growing all the time, as it does whenever a new manager takes over," he said. "It takes a certain amount of time to learn how they like to work and vice-versa. "We are constantly talking and it is getting better every day." Mills said that despite the frustration at City's indifferent first half of the campaign, promotion was still their ultimate goal in the second half of the campaign. "We have dropped points in games, there is no question," he said. "There has been a lot of change at the club, but the bedding in period is now over. "There are still a lot of points available and we have a number in mind we want to achieve. Everyone is fully focused on getting there. "We are in touching distance. We are not a million miles away. "There are things that could be altered but once those changes are made we are looking very positive for the second half of the season. "Goals change games and winning brings confidence. I think confidence is still high because if you look at games we have drawn we could easily have won. "That is the thing with the Championship. There are fine lines between drawing and winning games. "Anyone who has watched will see that the one thing we haven't lacked since the manager has come in has been positivity. We always push for results. "Promotion is still achievable, and it is at the forefront of our minds."
