Inigo Calderon has insisted that his Bristol Rovers players will have to show mental strength if they are to get themselves out of relegation fears following their 2-0 defeat at Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night.
Despite a promising start, Rovers found themselves behind after just 13 minutes when Matty Godden broke the deadlock and responded poorly with Josh Griffiths relied upon to make a couple of good saves. However, Charlton found a second before half-time as Josh Edwards produced a decent finish from range, giving their visitors a mountain to climb.
For the second game in four days, the Gas went behind early and failed to show any sign of an immediate response. It’s been a common theme this season which has led to the mentality of individuals in the squad being questioned. They did improve in the second half but struggled to produce any meaningful end product as their issues in front of goal continued.
However, Calderon sympathised with his players when asked if there was a mentality issue, saying to Bristol Live: “When you are in that situation down the table, it’s a different sport.
“The way you feel, the way you sleep, the way you have relationships with everybody. It’s a different sport and it’s not an easy one to do because you don’t enjoy the job that much. That should be the best job in the world but it’s not that good because you obviously don’t want to lose and you don’t want to concede goals.
“That’s why I say it’s going to be a mental thing to have that strength in the end because it’s not going to be easy and that’s, as I say, because usually when you are down there, everything is going against you. So make sure you have to make sure that we are together and stronger.”
Rovers are currently just four points clear of the relegation zone and now face a crucial period as they look to distance themselves from danger.
Six of their next nine League One matches are at home with the next three all coming at the Mem. In that time they will play fellow relegation-threatened sides Peterborough, Burton, Northampton and Shrewsbury.
The situation and their fate is very much still in the Gas’ own hands but Calderon has repeatedly stated that Rovers will be in a tough situation for an extended period of time given the reality of the situation he has come into.
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However, when asked if he believes he can nurture the mentality of his players, the Rovers head coach confessed: “Well, that comes a lot with the personality of the players and I try to say to the boys that we are now sure where we are in the division and what are the things we have to do.
“As I say, it’s not going to be easy at all. It’s not going to be better in two or three games. Winning and losing – we are going to stay in the same situation. So it’s going to be long. It’s a marathon, not a sprint so obviously the mental thing is a big part.
“I try to help but we have enough experience in the dressing room so I said to the boys they’ve probably already been in this situation and they know what to do.
“It’s important. It’s not an easy thing but you stay together because as soon as we start to blame each other, that will be chaos and I don’t like that.”