Iñigo Calderón admitted he was ‘frustrated and disappointed’ after Bristol Rovers lost 2-1 to Exeter City in Sky Bet League One.
The Gas were looking to return to winning ways in a massive game towards the bottom of the table but went into half-time two goals behind after strikes from Caleb Watts and Reece Cole. Ruel Sotiriou got one back for Rovers, who pushed for a leveller in the final stages but were unsuccessful.
The Pirates have lost their last six fixtures, including their previous three at The Memorial Stadium and are now in the relegation zone with four matches left to play.
Calderón reflected honestly on the defeat and the need to improve to avoid dropping into League Two.
I’m really frustrated and disappointed...
“I’m really frustrated and disappointed,” he said. “It’s difficult to explain because I think I had a great feeling during the week, even in the dressing room before the game. You think we have done everything and everything is in the right place, and after, the goals again, especially the first one that early, that killed us a little bit because we are not in the best moment of the season.
“You can see that. So, we are a bit weak mentally, and that’s normal, and that killed us. That killed us a lot. After the second one before half-time, when you want to adjust a few things and go through details at half-time, and after they score the second one, it’s the worst moment that can happen.
“After it’s true that we changed and we created, but it’s really tough today. It’s really tough to take. It’s really tough to take because it’s not about luck. You have similar chances that we don’t score, and they score. I have been trying to say that it’s going to be like that until the end because when you are down there, the luck is not with you, and you have to be stronger mentally and keep doing it. It’s as simple as that.”
Exeter played the game they had to play...
“The first goal, it gave them so much, and they can play the way they wanted,” said the head coach. “To kill the game and waste time. Exeter played the game they had to play. It's not the fairest one, maybe for me, but you have to take it. They are playing the game. You have to respect that. It’s up to the referee to stop that, but we were not our best.
“I think we created chances, and you could see the [second] goal could come for us, but it didn’t come, and after the second goal before half-time, obviously, it was tough to take. I could see the boys at half-time were really down. It's true that in the second half, we tried to find the way because it’s what we had to do to do our best again until the final whistle. We scored the first one, so there was a bit of hope in there, but again, it was a difficult game. You could see the players were feeling the pressure. We kept trying, but probably not in the best way. It was more about wanting to score than really doing things right to score the goal. I think we have to improve because now until the end, it’s going to be like that.”
The dressing room is really, really down...
“The dressing room is really, really down,” said Calderón. “I think we’ve touched the bottom. I think if someone didn’t realise, I think they have realised now because it’s obvious that we are down there. The way we are going, we are League Two. It’s as simple as that. I don’t know if they already knew. I knew that. We are going to be fighting for that, and now we are in League Two. We have four games to go up. It’s as simple as that."
Now it’s not about playing pretty or not pretty...
“Now it’s not about playing pretty or not pretty,” he stated. “I realised quite quickly about that. It’s not about the players we have as well. I think we have to try and play a little bit. It's not about the philosophy because it doesn’t give you any points. It’s about trying to perform the best way you have to do. Sometimes, it’s playing good. Sometimes, it’s about set pieces. Today it was not that.”
The fans were great...
“The fans were great,” said the Spaniard. “I mean great. In the situation we are, losing five games in a row, start losing the game and are 2-0 down, and they are still with us for 95 minutes. I’m not going to say anything to them. After the final whistle, they can say whatever they want because they have the right to say that. I am the first one. I am disappointed with myself and with the team, and the fans have been great.
“But I don’t want to speak about the two home games. We have Wrexham away, and we know our performances away haven’t been that good. It’s true that the last one against Bolton was a bit better. It’s not four games. It’s one game. The next one is the most important one. It’s so clear for me.”
