The Reds showed a different side to their game after the midweek defeat of Fulham and Pearce felt his men did the 'dirty side of the game' well in South London.
Kelvin Wilson and David Vaughan came through their returns from injury and Pearce hopes to have Matty Fryatt and Andy Reid back in training at the end of next week.
Before then the Reds are back in London for a high-profile League Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur.