"I don't want the players to apologise," said Pearce. "I want them to produce a winning performance. That's an apology from a player's point of view."
Thankfully Sylvain Distin will bolster the City defence as he returns from a one-game ban but Sun Jihai is still suspended.
Claudio Reyna will have a late fitness test on a shoulder injury and Joey Barton (ankle) will be out for at least another week.
Andy Cole, Stephen Jordan and Nedum Onuoha are likely to be out injured for the season.