Nigel Pearson faces tall order keeping Leicester in the Premier League

LEICESTER have been rooted to the bottom of the Premier League since November and are now seven points from safety so face the tallest order of any side.

Nigel PearsonGETTY

Nigel Pearson believes Leicester's home form will decide their fate

After winning the Championship in such style last term, amassing over a century of points, the extremity of the Foxes' struggle has come as some surprise.

Leicester's Thai owners have kept faith with Nigel Pearson despite a season of poor results since the high of beating Manchester United 5-3 in September. Pearson's off-field antics have been questionable too.

He was punished by the FA for telling one supporter to "f*** off and die" during the Liverpool game, and was also involved in an unsavoury incident with Crystal Palace's James McArthur before being sacked and then reinstated 24 hours later.

Pearson has employed a series of different tactics and team line-ups, a far cry from the consistent 4-4-4-2 used in the Championship, and not been successful.

Foxes home form key - Pearson [AMBIENT]

Yet the 51-year-old has previous in survival battles having memorably helped Carlisle stay in the Football League in his first managerial job in 1999, and was also Bryan Robson's assistant as West Brom stayed in the top flight in 2005.

Another thing in Leicester's favour is their run-in. Six of their nine remaining games are at home, they still have to play the three teams directly above them, and Chelsea are the only side in the top five they have left to encounter.

Expensive strikers Andrej Kramaric (two goals) and Leonardo Ulloa (without a league goal in 2015) have failed to deliver so Pearson may turn to the tried and test Jamie Vardy and David Nugent.

Leicester though need to string a run of wins together though if they are to pull off this improbable task. And with just four league victories all season that will not be easy.

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