Inigo Calderon has declared he is taking things one game at a time as Bristol Rovers look to secure their League One status over the final 14 games of this season, starting with hosting Rotherham United on Saturday afternoon.
The Gas will then travel to fellow strugglers Shrewsbury Town three days later before hosting Huddersfield Town next weekend with Rovers’ home form considerably better than their away record.
Following back-to-back defeats last week away from home, including a particularly damaging loss against a relegation rival in Northampton Town, the Gas’ advantage above the bottom four was slashed to just three points after Burton Albion followed up their 3-1 defeat at the Mem with back-to-back away wins at Stevenage and Lincoln City.
However, Calderon won’t be looking beyond the next game for the final two months of the campaign with Rotherham the Rovers head coach’s current priority.
“As I say, it’s from now to the end of the season,” the Spaniard declared ahead of Saturday’s Mem return. “I’ve been saying that is going to be every single game. I don’t look even more [at] the next game because the next one doesn’t matter. Saturday is the most important one and then after we talk about the next ones. I don’t ever say about the two games, three games, how many points we have to take from. No. The next one is the most important one. [We will] try to get the most of them.”
Eight of the Gas’ final 14 matches of the season will be at the Mem with their record on home turf considerably better than when they’ve played away.
Rovers have taken 10 points from the last possible 12 at home while 25 of their currently total of 35 points have come from matches played in BS7. Meanwhile, the Gas have just three away wins to their name all campaign, losing eight of their last nine League One trips.
Their poor form on the road continued last week as defeats at Wycombe and Northampton dragged them right back into the relegation mix after taking advantage of a run of three consecutive home games, beating Peterborough and Burton as well as drawing against Stockport.
Bristol Rovers Live on Whatsapp
Join Bristol Rovers Live’s Whatsapp community for all the biggest Bristol Rovers stories sent straight to your phone
Bristol Rovers Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.
Through the app, we’ll send the Bristol Rovers news, live match coverage, team news, transfers, fixtures, analysis and more straight to your phone.
To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live team.
We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.
To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’.
If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
However, when asked if he could put a finger on why the Gas’ fortunes are of such stark difference based on if they’re playing home or away, Calderon said: “No, not really. As you say, for most of the teams it happens but it’s true that it is a big difference. The way we play and the way we perform at home has been much, much better in all the concepts of the game. Defending, attacking has been much better.
“I think we try to do the same in terms of the way we approach the game, the way we do the week, we do the meetings, we pick the team. Everything is the same. I don’t really see any difference when we play away or home.
“As I always say about the table, it doesn’t matter if they are at the top or the bottom, we always try to face the game the same way but it’s been happening.
“So the good thing [is] we play at home but, as I say, we have to do better.”