Bristol Rovers host Rotherham United tomorrow afternoon in another massive game at the Mem as the Gas look to ease relegation concerns after their advantage over the drop zone was cut to just three points last week.
Back-to-back away defeats at Wycombe Wanderers and Northampton Town saw the Gas’ poor record on the road continue, having taken seven points from the three previous matches at home.
This weekend, Rovers are thankfully back at the Mem where they host a Rotherham side that have lost six of their last eight outings across all competitions and have won just twice away from home all campaign.
The Millers are only three points above their hosts, meaning that a Gas win would see them go level on points with Steve Evans’ side, although the South Yorkshire outfit boast a far superior goal difference.
Inigo Calderon met with local media on Wednesday afternoon to preview the Rotherham clash while also reflecting on a tricky week, Rovers’ away struggles, some positive injury news, adapting to League One and much more. Here is a full transcript of everything the Gas head coach said…
Northampton seems like a long time ago now but how do you reflect on Saturday and, more importantly, what did you learn going into an important game on Saturday with Rotherham?
Well. Something that we were talking [about] before the game, that [it] doesn’t matter how the game looks, you can still have a problem in the game because I think the game was more or less under control when we were 1-0 up and all of a sudden we conceded the goal and another time we conceded the second one and we lost the game.
So I think it’s important to know that it doesn’t matter how good, how bad you are in the game, you have to stay in the game until the last second of the game because, as I say, I don’t think that the goal was coming. Something I said before, against Wycombe I thought the goal was coming.
I didn’t see it coming, but still they found a way. So we have to make sure that we are better than that.
It’s one of the mysteries in football, why teams do better at home than away but in your case it seems very stark. Can you put your finger on why that is?
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.
And do results like Northampton put a pressure on you when you do go to the Mem and there’s expectation to have to pick up three points and win the match?
Yeah, but now it’s going to be like that until the end. I mean, and as I say, it doesn’t matter if we play with someone with us in the table or they are a bit higher. For me, I don’t change the approach at all. I think you can win games every time and we did that against Barnsley and they were in a momentum and we lost the other day against a team that were with us in this.
So for me, every game is a chance to get the three [points] and as I say, I don’t change anything. The approach, the way I want to play, the way I want to defend, that doesn’t change [because of] the opposition. So for me it’s the same.
You’ve still only been at the club for a couple of months now but already a lot of football has been played. Do you feel that you are more familiar with League One and the challenges of League One football than you were when you joined the football club.
Well obviously yes, because at the end it doesn’t matter how much you watch football or even play football in this division before. The beauty of this league is there are a lot of different games, different teams. Some they try to play good, others they try to play more direct. Sometimes they want to be more defensive, more physical.
So I would say every game is a bit different and that’s really good. It’s true that, for example, I think this week has been better for us in terms of last game was something similar that we are gonna face on on Saturday in terms of the opposition. So I prefer that because at the end, the analysis you do after the game, you can reflect or prepare the next game. I think it’s going to be like that on Saturday, even next Tuesday. I think they’re going to be similar games in terms of the opposition.
So for me, it’s been a good week because we have a long week to train finally because I always say that I miss that. Having three, four days to train properly and we had that this week. So I think we are in a better position to play.
And in terms of team news, how are the squad looking going into the weekend?
We are ready. I think they came back really good from the defeat. I think it was tough to take. I think Saturday was really, really tough because, as I say, I don’t think anyone was feeling or seeing that coming and so it was really hard to take and to explain.
So Monday was a difficult day here at the training ground but Tuesday and today has been much better. I can see that the way we are training, like you say before I’ve been here two months, if I see the first weeks and I see now that the quality and the whole team training is in a better position. So for me it’s really important.
Was Ruel injured when he was taken off at Northampton and how is he?
He’s alright. He was just, not protected, but we weren’t fully convinced that he would keep going so we took the decision to change him. He trained fully today so he will be alright.
In Steve Evans, Rotherham have one of the most experienced managers in the league. Usually I think a physical battle. What are you expecting on Saturday?
Yeah, that’s the thing with his teams, you’re not going to have surprises. You know how they’re going to play.
As I say, for us, it’s good in terms of we can play that [but] at the same time sometimes [it] doesn’t matter [if] you are in control of the game. Any action they can put the ball in the box. Any throw-in is going to be in the box. Everything is going to be into the box so we have to be prepared for that. To deal with the second balls better than we did against Northampton. I think it was something that we didn’t do too good.
So, as I say, the good thing for me is we already faced a team like that on Saturday so I think we should be more prepared and better prepared for Saturday.
And after being blessed with a week off, it’s a big week coming up with nine points up for grabs. I mean, it could hurt you but it could also benefit you. It could be a very important week for Rovers.
Yeah. As I say, it’s from now to the end of the season. 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 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. Try to get the most of them.
Kofi Shaw is back at the club. What have you made of him and how much of a role can he play between now and the end of the season?
I said that with Kofi, he’s a player I like a lot. Even when he went to Yeovil on loan, if I was selfish I want him to stay with us it’s because, as a coach, I think that he has to be with me because I want him to improve.
So it was a bit selfish because at the end I think for him it was good to go on loan and to play and to have more means with another team. But at the same time we had the new problem with Wardy. We thought there was a moment to call him back and, to be fair, what I’m seeing from him since he came back has been really good.
As I say, it’s a player I like a lot. I don’t think we have to put any pressure on him because that will not be fair for him. But he will have his minutes 100 per cent because he trained really good and the most important thing after when he plays, the age doesn’t affect him. You could see against Wycombe, the time he played was really, really good. So comfortable with the pressure.
So as I say, we cannot put pressure on him, but he will have his minutes 100 per cent.
And Jevani Brown was on the bench against Wycombe. I guess it’s the same for him that he will have a chance?
Listen, all the players that are with us, they will have the chance. I always say if you are fit, you will have your chance.
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.
On the injury side of things, you mentioned Grant there, how’s he? But also longer term injuries like Kamil [Conteh] and Promise [Omochere], how are they getting on?
Kamil is going to be a long one. We cannot put a date on that. But Promise is promising. He looks much better. I will say that even he could be involved in the squad for Saturday. So that’s really good for the team, for the club, for himself obviously.
Wardy I think is better as well so hopefully he’s in the squad as well.
And Grant is one of a number of players out of contract this summer and fans will naturally start talking about who they would like to see get extensions. Are contracts even on the mind right now?
No, not really. There’s still two months [of the season left]. It’s too early for me to say.
Listen, I understand. I’ve been in the situation that when you finish your contract at the end of the season. So listen, for me it’s important that everybody tries to do their best and that will put them in a better place.
If it’s here in the club, happy days and if it’s not here in the club, if they do right or the team does better, it will be better for them.
So I’m not going to start talking about that because there’s still a long time and a lot of things to do but I say the most important thing is everybody has to improve and if we improve as a team, it will be better for everyone.
After yourself, we’re going to speak to Lino Sousa, another player who has played a lot since you came in. Where improvements have you seen from him and what would you like to see him improve on in the final 14 games of his loan spell?
Lino, Wardy, they were not playing too much when I came here and I gave them a chance and they took it well.
I think Lino has been improving a lot. I think at the start he was probably struggling a little bit dealing with the crosses and that. I think he has improved a lot in this.
Obviously, with the ball he has a nice left foot. I think he was involved in two games in the last game at home. Two good deliveries. So he’s a good player. Obviously he’s still young so he has to learn a lot of things but he’s in a good momentum, I would say.