Inigo Calderon has insisted that his Bristol Rovers side are continuously improving after they ended Stockport County’s five-game winning run in League One thanks to a dramatic late equaliser from debutant defender Sil Swinkels in a 1-1 draw at the Mem on Tuesday night.
Although Stockport had seen more of the ball and created the better openings, Rovers held firm out of possession in the first half until their resistance was eventually broken early in the second period by Isaac Olaofe.
County looked set for a sixth consecutive win in the league as the Gas struggled to carve out clear cut opportunities until a perfect free-kick delivery from Matt Butcher was laid on a plate for Swinkels to head home in added time having only come on the pitch from the bench 20 minutes earlier.
The draw means that Rovers have taken seven points from their last three home games and Calderon believes they are improving as the Spaniard looks to steer them well clear of any relegation threat.
“I’m really happy with the progression of the team,” Calderon confessed. “I think we are developing and progressing every single day and, as I say, it was not easy today.
“I was happy with the first half, not that much the second half, but I have to give credit and understand the position that we were facing today. I think they were a really good side, especially after they scored, the game was played the way they wanted so it was difficult for us. We couldn’t find a way. We even tried to change a lot. We brought on four players just to move the situation a bit.
“I think that moment at the end was important for the boys because it showed that you’ve got to keep fighting until the very last second of the game.”
Rovers did look set for a home defeat as they struggled to create any meaningful opportunities while Stockport controlled the ball, oozing confidence.
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However, a free-kick won by debutant striker Michael Reindorf was precisely delivered by Butcher who gave the arriving Swinkels no other option but to glance the ball into the net.
“Yeah I was so happy for him,” Calderon added on the defender’s debut goal. “You could see the way he jumped to celebrate the goal, it’s good for our young players coming to our club. It’s the best that you can ask and from the very first day he’s settled so well with the group. Credit to him and credit to the players for making him feel welcome.
“It’s important for everybody in the squad or even the ones that weren’t in the squad today to feel part of the team because it’s really important to end the season.”