'I'd do the same' - Inigo Calderon responds to Bristol Rovers crowd discontent in Stevenage loss

Bristol Rovers’ survival hopes were further dented after a terrible 1-0 defeat at home to Stevenage on Easter MondaySport

Daniel Hargraves Bristol Rovers reporter

18:20, 21 Apr 2025

Bristol Rovers head coach Inigo Calderon during their 1-0 defeat to Stevenage(Image: Will Cooper/PPAUK)

Inigo Calderon cut a dejected figure in his post-match press conference after Bristol Rovers fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to Stevenage on Easter Monday, further denting their League One survival hopes.

Jamie Reid’s 12th minute goal was enough to earn the visitors the points against a Rovers team that, despite needing to win to give themselves a realistic chance of surviving relegation, produced a timid performance that offered very little attacking quality.

The loss was the Gas’ seventh in eight matches and the fourth time in six in which they’ve conceded the opening goal within the opening 12 minutes. Once again, it was a very familiar story for the Pirates with Calderon confessing he could do the “same interview.”

“I think it’s been the same,” the Rovers head coach exclaimed post-match. “I think I can do the same interview that we did against Exeter, against Mansfield, that we concede an early goal and it took us too long to recover from that.

“I think the first half was not good enough, and the second one was a bit more, obviously chaotic. I don’t think we dealt well with the situation, the anxiety. It was bigger than our calmness to try to do things right, I would say, and it was a bad game. Simple as that.

“That’s why I say, how many times [do] we concede that early? Today was the 12th minute so that’s the last thing you want against a team that then after they start the game plan. As I say, it’s exactly the same as Exeter.

“They start to waste time, but I mean, I would do the same; I don’t blame them. We have enough to blame ourselves, me the first one.

“I was probably more frustrated today [than against Exeter] because I think, especially after coming from Wrexham and performing that good, it’s like we are not learning from the mistakes,” the Spaniard added. “The goal is so many mistakes in one goal, but it’s happening too many times.

“So I say to the boys somehow, I don’t know, probably not today because I don’t think we deserve anything today, but maybe if we could have in the past, we deserve more. That’s why we still have chances. We are in the [same] situation than before, one game less, that’s not good, but from tomorrow we have to start to think about the next game.”

Reid was allowed to waltz past a number of Rovers players before taking the ball around Jed Ward in goal and blasting into the net via a deflection off of Jack Hunt who had gotten himself back to be the last line of defence.

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The hosts had started brightly prior, with Ruel Sotiriou blasting their best chance narrowly wide via a deflection. However, the majority of the Gas’ opportunities came from set-pieces.

Having produced an impressive display in a 1-1 draw away at Wrexham on Good Friday, Calderon named an unchanged line up that produced nowhere near the same levels of performance.

Boos and jeers rang around the Mem from home supporters throughout the majority of the match before rumblings of discontent bellowed throughout BS7 as supporters sang chants such as “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” and “you don’t know what you’re doing” as Calderon and his players walked off of the pitch.

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Asked about fans voicing their frustration, the Gas boss said: “100 per cent [I understand it]. I would do the same if I was in the stands. I’ve been saying all the time, the fans, they’ve been great with us. They support us during the game and after the final whistle they can say whatever they want because that’s why they pay [for] the tickets, and I think we deserve that.

“No one in the dressing room was happy with the performance we did today so you have to accept that. Obviously, we have to try to give them something and today, for example, I don’t think we did.”

After Burton Albion’s 2-1 defeat at home to Birmingham City, Rovers remain in the bottom four on goal difference. However, the Brewers boast a game in hand with further home matches against Cambridge United and Wigan Athletic to come before heading to Charlton Athletic on the final day.

Rovers, meanwhile, host Reading on Saturday before heading to Blackpool on the final day.

‘I’d do the same’ – Inigo Calderon responds to Bristol Rovers crowd discontent in Stevenage loss

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