Bristol Rovers manager Inigo Calderon delivered a stinging verdict after his side’s sixth straight League One loss, declaring that the team is currently operating like a League Two club.
The 2-1 home defeat to Exeter City pushed the Gas into the relegation zone for the first time this season, having been nine points clear of the drop just a month ago. The atmosphere at the Memorial Stadium turned sour, with fans voicing their displeasure at full-time.
Post-Match Honesty After Dressing Room Talks
Speaking nearly an hour after the final whistle, Calderon revealed he had held a candid post-match meeting with his players, opting for a calm but firm exchange of truths in the changing room.
“”I think everybody realises now, I don’t know if they knew before, but it’s quite obvious now at this moment we are a League Two team, a League Two club,” Calderon told BBC Radio Bristol.
“It was good to have this chat to say everything to the face of everyone, to be a man in front of everyone, because we have to be strong enough to want to go out from this situation.”
His approach was less about raising voices and more about personal responsibility — including his own. “I’m the first one to take it on the chest if I have to be told something,” he said, making it clear the club’s survival must be a collective effort.
The defeat itself was another example of Rovers conceding early and chasing the game. Exeter took the lead in the 11th minute and extended their advantage before the break. A second-half strike from Ruel Sotiriou gave the hosts a glimmer of hope, but they couldn’t find an equaliser.
Calderon had previously guided Rovers to relative safety after replacing Matt Taylor in December, but a terrible run of just two wins in 12 has undone that progress. Meanwhile, Burton Albion’s improved form has seen them leapfrog the Gas.
There are few signs of optimism as Rovers now face a daunting final run-in. They travel to Wrexham on Good Friday, before hosting Stevenage and Reading, then ending their season at Blackpool. Calderon believes the time for talking is over — the team must now show whether it has the desire to avoid relegation.
Despite the setback, Calderon said he had a good feeling before the match, praising the week’s preparation and the players’ attitude in training. But once again, that failed to translate to performance when it mattered most.
The Spaniard described the day as his “most difficult” at the club, admitting it needs to act as a turning point if Bristol Rovers are to claw their way out of danger.
Site Opinion
Calderon’s brutally honest assessment might sting, but it reflects the brutal reality. The Gas have not just been losing — they’ve been regressing. The manager’s refusal to sugar-coat the situation could galvanise the squad, but with only four games remaining, it may be too little, too late. Rovers need performances, not platitudes — and they need them now.
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