Pearce is already looking at what improvements he wants to make when the transfer window reopens, although he didn't say exactly where he was hoping to boost his squad.
“I've got a priority on four positions in our team that I think we can strengthen and that probably won't change between now and the window and now and the end of the season,” he told the City website.
With a number of junior/reserve players coming into the senior ranks, Pearce now has 35 professionals at his disposal.
He has therefore made it clear that each and every player must perform if they want to keep their place in the team.
“Squads are certainly bigger now than they were some years ago," Pearce added. "We've got 35 professionals here and they're all trying to get in the 1st team.
“Now we've used in excess of maybe 20 players already this season. So there is competition for places and people know that if their standards do drop, they're going to have to fight for a place and look at the game on the outside for a while.”