MIDDLESBROUGH manager Chris Wilder would do very well to earn the status and reputation of current Bristol City manager on Teesside but he’s looking forward to pitting his wits against a legend of Boro this afternoon.

Pearson captained Boro to promotion twice to the Premier League in 1995 and 1998 before retiring from playing that season. He went on to make just short of 150 appearances and feature in numerous cup finals for the club.

As it turns out, the two managers live a stones throw away from each other in Wilder’s native Steel City.

“He lives about 500 yards away from me in Sheffield so I know Nigel. I see him walking now and again” admitted the Boro boss.

Speaking of his admiration for his managerial counterpart, he said: “His history as a player, he played for the dark side of Sheffield so I really shouldn’t be pals with him so a good guy and a leader. He was an iconic leader at Middlesbrough.

“From a manager’s point of view, he’s been in the game a long time. He’s seen everything, done everything, had promotions, worked at the highest level, worked at top clubs. There’s nothing that passes him by. He’s an experienced guy.

“When he was a captain at Middlesbrough or Sheffield Wednesday and in his playing days, you can just tell in his manner and how he speaks and how he holds himself that he is a leader of men.”

In the dugout, the 58-year-old Pearson is in charge of a Robins side who are struggling for form having won one of their last five games and currently sit 17th in the Championship table.

The complexion is wholly different from a Boro perspective who have won ten of out the last 13 games in all competitions.

Wilder added: “They will be hurting a little a bit because they’ve not got the results that they wanted on a consistent basis but they can win games of football in this division. Nigel has done in his career when he’s won promotion out of the Championship.

“We all want to win games of football. You talk about the competitive aspect of Nigel as a player and as a manager. There’s no doubt about it. Come three o’clock, all the pleasantries will be put to one side regardless of whether he’s played for Middlesbrough. He’ll want a result for Bristol City just as much as we’ll want a result for our club.”