But Pearce insists the City players knew they should have performed better after sure a promising start.
"I’m pleased with the result. As for the performance, not only am I a little disappointed with it, but the players are too," he told the City website.
"For me that’s a fantastic sign, they’re in there (the dressing room), they’re talking about points tallies and when your players are talking the way the manager and the coaches are talking that’s really pleasing. They’re looking at the next game and saying ‘if we get this’ and ‘if we get that’, and I like that in the squad."
Sunday's win edged City into 9th above Wigan on goal difference. The Latics host United tonight and are the visitors for the next league game at Eastlands (March 18th).
In the meantime, City are away at relegation-threatened Portsmouth on Saturday before hosting Villa next Tuesday for a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.