Pearson was manager of the Carlisle team which miraculously avoided relegation from of the Football League eight years ago when keeper Jimmy Glass scored a famous injury-time winner against Plymouth.

Pearson had signed Glass on loan earlier in the season and whereas Carlisle’s future hinged on that one result, tomorrow’s clash at Watford for the Magpies brings down the curtain on another year to forget for the North-east giants.

Pearson takes over following Glenn Roeder’s resignation last weekend. He was appointed Roeder’s No2 midway through the season and will almost certainly be jettisoned when Sam Allardyce takes charge.

He has been hurt by Roeder’s departure, but says the players must do a professional job at Vicarage Road.

“It came as a shock, of course it did,” said Pearson. “When you work for a club where expectations are exceptionally high that goes with the territory, but it’s difficult when colleagues lose their jobs.

“I would rather it was not this way.”