Nigel Pearson plays down pressure at Leicester City

Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson says there is no extra weight of expectation on his shoulders in the bid to achieve Championship promotion this season.

The Foxes, who were second in mid-February, have won one of the last six Championship games, slumping to fifth and eight points off the top two.

"I don't feel the pressure at all," Pearson told BBC East Midlands Today.

"People keep trying to ramp things up, it remains the same situation that it was in July and August."

City's promotion hopes were boosted by a fine run of form over the festive period and the turn of the year, resulting in six wins from seven in all competitions.

However a shock defeat at Peterborough in February has triggered the downturn, stalling Leicester's promotion bid.

The former West Bromwich Albion and Hull City boss took over in November last season after Sven Goran Eriksson's departure but was unable to guide the club to the play-offs.

Summer recruitment, including big money signings such as Jermaine Beckford and Jamie Vardy, in addition to the investment of the club's owners the previous campaign saw City installed among the favourites for a return to the Premier League.

Despite being involved in promotion picture, the last month's fortunes have prompted media speculation around Pearson's future at the King Power Stadium.

"It's the Championship, the biggest single factor is we've not taken enough of our chances, our defensive record remains very good, as a team we've scored a decent amount of goals but we've not taken chances at key moments," Pearson added.

"We've got really good players here and lots of options in attacking positions so I've not doubt that will happen again quickly.

"Our owners have a huge commitment to the football club over a sustained period of time and the most important thing for us is that we recognise where we are,

"We're all working extremely hard within the club, we have a shared responsibility and an ownership in what we do.

"The owners have been transparent in how they've tried to put together promotion campaigns and it's it happened for us so far but hopefully it will happen this year."