Iñigo Calderón stated his Bristol Rovers team must recover after the Gas lost 2-0 to Charlton Athletic in Sky Bet League One.
The Pirates had gained momentum under their new head coach after collecting back-to-back wins in the third tier against Cambridge United and Barnsley. However, two successive 2-0 away defeats versus Wigan Athletic and Charlton have stalled any progress up the table.
The Addicks scored twice in the first half on their way to their sixth victory in eight League One games, with Matty Godden opening the scoring before Josh Edwards doubled their lead with a low strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Calderón reflected on the team's progress and previewed the upcoming clash against Peterborough United.
It’s going to be difficult...
“Coming from Saturdays being quite a hard performance to take just three days ago,” he said. “So, it is not easy and especially as you could feel that in the team when we concede the first goal, it was a bit of a storm in our heads.
“It’s going to be difficult. I have been saying that. I don’t want to be a pessimist. I try to be realistic, and I am quite positive in the group. I trust the group a lot, but we have to realise where we are. It's going to be like that, even if we win the next game, it’s going to be like that. If we lose the next game, it’s going to be like that for a long time.
“For me, it’s a marathon, and my mentality is strong enough to stay in this division. I have been in this situation a lot of times, so it’s not a new one for me. I know what you have to do. You have to work harder with a good mentality and stay together because that is the only way.”
I’ve seen the progress in the team...
“I’ve seen the progress in the team,” said Calderón. “I see that when we try to play a little bit more, we can create something. In the last third, when we have to create something, we are not doing it. Still, I would say in the middle of the park, I think we have been better than them. It’s true that in the boxes, where you lose or win the game, we were worse than them.
“We conceded two soft goals, and it’s not on the defenders; it’s on the whole team. We conceded two soft goals the other day as well, and we have to try and avoid that because otherwise, it’s quite obvious that we cannot score so many goals. So, if we concede every single game, it’s going to be difficult.”
We have to defend better as otherwise, it’s going to be difficult...
“Obviously not [happy] because we are not winning but being positive and realistic, I think we try to see it,” he confessed. “For me, the most important thing, and it’s quite clear for me, is that as soon as we don’t stick with the plan, we are not doing everything.
“I think it is better for the club with the players we have, I think it is the only way we have to win games. As I say, when we do things right, we can see that. Obviously, keep it in the game longer, and we have to defend better as otherwise, it’s going to be difficult.”
We have to make sure that we recover well from this hard day...
“I said to the boys that they have to make sure they want to stay here because it’s going to be tough from here until the end of the season,” said the head coach. “No matter if we win or lose on Sunday, we will still be in the same situation.
“There’s not going to be a big change, but it’s going to be an important game against someone who is in the same situation. So, it is a massive one, and we have to make sure that we recover well from this hard day. But that’s football, and that’s why you have to show the mentality that we have to be.”
