Inigo Calderon details decisive trait that is holding Bristol Rovers back (2025)

Bristol Rovers fell to a sixth consecutive defeat on Saturday afternoon when losing 2-1 at home to Exeter City

Inigo Calderon has noted that conceding the first goals in games, even against the run of play, is seriously affecting Bristol Rovers in matches after they fell to a sixth consecutive defeat on Saturday afternoon, losing 2-1 to Exeter City.

After Rovers scored 18 times in their first eight home matches under Calderon, the goals have dried up with just one in each of their last three. Those three goals have also been the only times the Gas have scored in their run of losses with their last goal away from home coming in the 2-1 defeat at Northampton Town on February 22.

In those eight games at home, the Pirates scored first in six and went on to win five of them with the sole anomaly being the 3-2 loss to Rotherham United last month. Since, they have scored two equalisers and one consolation in three defeats, conceding first in each.

Difficulty taking points from going behind has been an issue for Rovers all season and it was a similar case on Saturday as Exeter broke the deadlock after just 11 minutes through Caleb Watts with their first attack of the game, killing any early momentum the hosts had been trying to build prior.

"It was a bit [of a] strange game to be fair," Calderon confessed post-match. "I think, as I say, after the first goal, the pace of the game was not there and that's the last thing we wanted. I think we need that high tempo and because of them, obviously, they slowed down the tempo and we were not as quick as we should [be] and they start to have doubt.

"The reality is that we are not in the best moment mentally and that's why it was so important, the first goal. I don't think we could avoid that feeling when we did concede the first goal, and probably when we were a bit better, they score the second one.

"But as I say, we have one clear chance before. I think the Ruel [Sotiriou] one was more clear than the one they score but that's why I say we have to be stronger in this situation. We have to be, because we cannot complain. The referee, the bad luck, the position; it's us. We have to do things better and, if not, we don't have a chance."

Rovers have taken just five points from losing positions all season while their record at holding onto leads has been significantly better, winning 11 and drawing one of the 16 matches in which they have scored the first goal.

The mentality and confidence of the squad has been questioned numerous times over the course of the campaign and it was the case again on Saturday as the Gas struggled to rediscover the promising intensity with which they started the game before going behind against the run of play.

An effort from Ruel Sotiriou that was well-saved by Exeter goalkeeper Joe Whitworth sparked some life back into the hosts but soon after they found themselves 2-0 down following an outrageous volley from Reece Cole with what was the Grecian's second chance of the game.

Sotiriou halved the deficit in the second half and Rovers created further chances, but couldn't find the final touch and subsequently left empty-handed again.

"I say I have a great feeling before the kick-off," the Spaniard stated to Bristol Live. "I have a great feeling when we were starting the game because we were on the front foot again. I think that was the first chance they had. I have to watch the game back because I would say [it] was the first time they have, and they score, and even I would say the second chance they have they score. So that's really tough.

"Obviously, I'm not going to say unfair because that's football and if you don't defend properly, you get beat, and that's the reality.

"So the reality is that we have to do lot of things right and we cannot allow to make a mistake because football is being against us because probably we deserve that."